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BX  3495    . V3  A3  1896 
Vansant,  Nicholas,  1823- 

1902 , 
Sunset  memories 


I 


I 

Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2014 

https://archive.org/details/sunsetmemoriesOOvans_0 


Sunset  Memories 


IIY 

REV.  NICHOLAS "VANSANT 

OK  THK  NKWARK   ANNUM,  Tc ) N !■  KRKNt  E 
Author  of  "  Thr  Life  and  Chauaci  eu  «f  Rev.  H.  Mattison,  D.D.," 

•■KaCHI!].  WeEIMNG  FOK   IIKK  CnTLLlKEN,"  "K.NTIKE  Hoi.INESS,"  ETC. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 
By  general  JAMES  F.  RUSLING 


NEW  YORK  :  EATON  &•  MAINS 
CINCINNATI  :  CURTS  &  JENNINGS 
1896 


Copyright  by 
EATON  &  MAINS, 
1896. 


Composition,  electrotyping, 
printing,  and  binding  by 
Eaton  &  Mains. 
150  FIfih  Ave.,  New  York. 


PREFACE. 


ANY  surprises  have  come  to  me  during  my  busy 


life.  Not  the  least  among  them  is  the  double 
surprise  of  having  lived  so  long,  and  of  having  passed 
my  fifty-first  milestone  of  unbroken  service  in  the  regu- 
lar active  work  of  the  ministry ;  to  which  there  now 
comes  the  added  and  greater  surprise  of  boldness  to  ad- 
venture the  writing  of  this  book,  thus  reversing,  even  in 
a  timid  nature,  the  ancient  law  that  old  age  is  "afraid 
of  that  which  is  high." 

Not  that  I  am  altogether  a  novice  in  authorship;  but 
the  project  of  preparing  this  larger  and  more  personal 
volume  required  far  greater  courage  than  any  j^revious 
attempt  in  that  line.  Yet  for  this  undertaking  there 
came  to  me  a  conscious  warrant  in  the  thought  that  my 
life  and  ministry  had  been  so  interwoven  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  especially  those 
portions  of  it  represented  by  the  Philadelphia,  New 
Jersey,  and  Newark  Conferences,  that  much  of  what  I 
should  write  would  of  necessity  possess  far  more  than  a 
mere  local  and  personal  interest. 

This  volume  covers  a  period  of  seventy  years  in  Metho- 
dist history,  than  which  no  other  is  of  greater  interest 
and  importance — a  period  in  which  the  Church  has  had 
her  severest  trials  and  her  grandest  triumphs.  The  au- 
thor, in  memory,  goes  back  to  the  troublous  times  of 


6 


Preface. 


1830,  when,  under  the  cliicf  leadership  of  Nicholas 
Snelhen,  Asa  Sliinn,and  Alexander  McCaine,  the  Meth- 
odist Protestant  Churcli  was  organized  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  especially  to  the  disturbing  excitement  which, 
in  the  few  following  years,  swept  over  the  region  of  his 
childhood  home.  In  1843  came  the  formation,  at  Utica, 
N.  Y.,  of  the  U'esleyan  Methodist  Connection,  led  by 
that  wonderful  man.  Orange  Scott,  with  I, a  Roy  Sun- 
derland, Luther  Lee,  and  others,  who,  in  their  intense 
opposition  to  slavery,  withdrew  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  on  the  ground  of  its  undue  conserva- 
tism. These  names  became  familiar  to  me  in  my  early 
ministry.  Then  followed  ajiace  the  more  serious  troubles 
of  1844,  issuing  in  the  organization  of  the  Methodist 
EjMscopal  Church,  South,  with  450,000  communicants, 
based  on  adherence  to  the  system  of  Southern  slavery, 
and  a  subsequent  dix  ision  of  the  ]>ook  Concern,  accord- 
ing to  the  ratio  of  tra\  cling  preachers  in  the  two  bodies. 
In  the  exciting  Supreme  Court  trial  it  became  my  priv- 
ilege to  hear  that  distinguished  pleader,  the  magnetic 
and  elofjuent  Rufus  Choate. 

"  Man  proposes,  but  Cod  disposes."  The  war  of 
1861-65,  backed  l)y  the  Ccneral  Conference  of  1864, 
effectually  destroyed  slavery  in  both  the  Church  and  the 
nation.  The  action  of  that  C'onference  on  this  and  other 
important  subjects  is  told  in  the  book.  In  1866  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  was  organized,  the  Board  of 
Education  in  186S,  tlie  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  in  1870,  followed  by  the  Woman's  Home  Mi.s- 
sionary  Society,  the  I'-jjworth  League  organization,  the 
Deaconess   movement,   etc.      'I'hus    the»  old  historic 


Preface. 


1 


Cluirch  of  1784  has  successfully  braved  many  a  storm, 
and  is  still  moving  forward  with  unabated  courage  and 
hope  in  her  career  of  ever-increasing  prosperity. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  title,  Sunset  Memories,  will  com- 
mend itself  to  the  reader  as  at  once  appropriate  and 
euphonious.  With  no  other  book  bearing  the  same  or  a 
similar  title  within  our  knowledge,  it  possesses  at  least 
the  merit  of  freshness.  Not  less  than  six  hundred  names 
of  ministers,  laymen,  and  friends  are  scattered  through 
the  book,  the  favorable  mention  of  which,  it  is  believed, 
will  give  pleasure  to  many  readers. 

This  unpretentious  volume  is  sent  forth  in  humble  de- 
pendence upon  Him  who  is  the  supreme  Master  Builder, 
without  whose  blessing  it  must  everywhere  and  always 
be  true  that  "  they  labor  in  vain  that  build." 


Madison,  N.  J.,  April  28,  1896. 


N.  V. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface.  Introdiction. 
PART  I. 
Thi.  Family. 

Chapter  Page 

I.  Family  Name,        .....  15-10 

II.  Parents,            ......  20-33 

III.  Brothers  and  Sisters.;  John  \V.,  34;  Joel,  36; 
James,  3S  ;  Rebecca,  41;  Samuel.  44;  Nicho- 
las, 50;  Nathaniel  D.,  51  ;  Mar)      53  ;  Isaac  N.,53,  34-56 

PART  II. 
Personal  Like  and  Ministry. 

I.  A  Notable  Birthplace — .Vhno-l,           .           .           .  5g-6l 
II.  Some    Incidents    of  liov  Imoil  ;    Protection  and  Es- 
cape, 62  ;  A   Sobtary  Combat,  65  ;  Early  School 

Days,  66  ;  Sunday  School  Life,  6S,             .           .  62-71 

III.  Conversion  and   What   Followed,  72  ;  Various  Re- 

sults, 74  ;  Further  Camp  Meetini;  Experiences,  77,  72-S2 

IV.  Semicentennial  Address,  ....  S3-94 

PART  HI. 

Chronological  (Jlimi)>cs  of  Pastoral  Charges  and  Work  :  Med- 
ford,  97  ;  Freehold,  99  ;  Paterson,  105  ;  Dover  and  .Millbrook,  108; 
Madison,  Ilo;  Bloomfield,  119;  Woodrow,  S.  1.,  121;  Belle- 
ville, N.  J.,  125;  New  Brunswick,  129;  Hridgcton.  137;  Trin- 
ity, S.  I.,  144  ;  Haverstraw,  N.  V.,  148  ;  Newark,  N.  J.,  Clinton 
Street,  151;  Rahway,  First  Church,  156;  Bethel,  S.  I.,  157; 
Jersey  City  District,  160  ;  Washington,  N.  J.,  166  ;  Newton 
District,  167  ;  Newark,  Trinity,  171  ;  Elizabeth,  Fulton  Street,  173; 
Trinity,  .S.  I.,  176;  New  Providence,  N.  J.,  179;  Chathani,  1S6  ; 
Port  Oram,  1S9  ;  St.  John's,  S.  I.,  191,       .  .  97-194 


10 


Contents. 


TAR  r  IV. 

Memories  of  New  Jers-ey  and  Newark  Conferences :  New  Jersey 
Coiifcrencf,  197;  Newark  (  onference,  I99  ;  In  Memoriam,  200  ; 
J.  K.  Adams,  237  ;  H.  AndiLW,  230  ;  S.  Arnislrong,  205  ;  R.  S. 
Arndl,  2-;5  ;  ].  Avars,  ,2I()  ;  (.).  l;adgck-y,  1:07;  ( ;.  ISaiigliart,  210; 
I).  W.  liarline,  222  :  C.  II.  Easscll,  250  ;  A.  II.  Belles,  239;  J. 
1).  lilain.  21S;  11  li.Hhni,  216;  A.  I,.  P.iice,  245:  A.  H. 
Brown,  246;  |.  K.  Burr,  223  ;  W.  !\[.  I'.urrdughs,  205  ;  W.  Bur- 
rows, 210;  T.-  T.  Camplield,  229;  J.  F.  Canlield,  24S ;  G.  O. 
Carniichael,  213;  I.  1!.  Carniicliacl,  201  ;  ('.  Clark,  .Sr.,  235  ;  J.S. 
Coil,  2nS  ;  I.  W.  Cole,  243  ;  .\.  S.  Cc)ni]iton,  241  ;  A.  Cook- 
man,  213  ;  J.  N.  Crane,  243  ;  j.  'l".  Crane,  219  ;  I.  Cross,  227  ; 
1.  1'.  Dailey,  225  ;  |,  II.  Dandy,  224;  R.  1..  1  )ashiLll,  220  ;  B. 
Day,  240;  1'..  A.  Day,  227;  V.  D.  Day,  236;  W.  Day,  249;  S.  W. 
Decker.  226;  \V.  II.  Dickrrsun,  220;  M.  E.  Ellison,  223 ;  J. 
Faull,  231;  1.  N.  Ickli,  217:  .M.  Fence,  204;  J.  P.  Fort,  247; 
D.  (naves,  22.,;  E.  M.Cniruh,  226;  I.,  (i.  Crillilli.  254;  J.  Han- 
Ion,  21:;;  M.  llerr,  249;  S.  W.  1 1  illiard,  2 1  3  ;  T.  11.  ]a.-..bus,  248  ; 
1!.  Kelley.  214;  J.  N.  Keys,  232;  J,  1..  l.cnhail,  205,  C.  A.  Lip- 
liincotl,  2r2;  W.  M.  l,ip|>incoU,  206;  H.  Litlz,  253;  F.  Lum- 
niis,  222;  .\.  A.  Macnichol,  252;  J.  1!.  Matliis,  242;  H.  Matti- 
.son,  2.«):  T.  McCarroll,  203;  j.  McClintock,  211;  C.  May- 
Imry,  241;  S.  A'.  .\1  onn.e,  2.); ;  W.  C.  Nelson,  207;  S.  H.  Op- 
dyke,  221:  T.  W.  I'carson,  203;  J.  .S.  l'„rUr,  231);  D.  F. 
Reed,  204;  \V.  KolurlM,,,,  2n(r.  |.  ().  R,,-cr.,  231;  J.  II.  Rnn- 
yc.n,  234;  S.  K.  Ku.s,ll.  225;  J.  ScaiKtl,  236;  J.  K.  Shaw,  202; 

B.  F,  Simpson.  212;  T.  II.  Smith,  244;  C.  R.  Snyder,  251;  W. 
Slikeman,  2(m);  T,  I  I.  Stockton,  244;  |.  S.  Swaim,  2i6;  lI.Trum- 
howcr,  210;  W.  Tunis., n,  234;  J.  -M.  Tutlle,  233;  C.  S.  Van- 
cleve,  237;  R.  N'ansyckle,  208;  W.  W.  Voorhees,  23S;  T.  Wal- 
ters, 219;  I!.  Weed,  21 S;  G.  W.  White,  206;  W.  C.  Wig- 
gins, 233;  R.  Winans,  224;  J.  O.  Winner,  254;  G.  Winsor,  22S; 

C.  A.  Wombough,  252;  R.  B.  Yard,  215,  -OI-255 

BART  V. 

Siipernuinerary  E.xperienecs  and  Review  Supplemental,  259-270 


INTRODUCTION. 


I  THINK  this  little  volume  unitiue  and  charming  in 
its  way,  of  singular  and  abiding  interest,  and  beg 
to  solicit  for  it  a  wide  circle  of  readers.  It  is  both  bio- 
graphical and  historical,  and  a  choice  bit  of  both  biog- 
raphy and  history.  It  is  a  brief  history  of  a  New  Jersey 
family  of  sterling  life  and  character,  that  began  life  down 
in  the  Jersey  "  Pines  "  a  century  or  so  ago,  and  now  con- 
sists of  over  two  hundred  descendants,  not  one  of  whom 
has  become  a  pauper  or  a  criminal,  or  a  drunkard  even, 
but  all  of  whom  have  added  to  the  honor,  tlie  pros- 
perity, and  the  wealtli  of  the  State,  and  bid  fair  to  do 
so  yet  for  long  years  to  come. 

Of  the  seven  sons,  six  became  ministers  of  the  (los- 
pel — two  in  the  Newark  Conference,  two  in  the  New 
Jersey  Conference,  and  two  local  preachers — all  of  them 
men  of  integrity  and  honor.  And  it  gives  me  rare  pleas- 
ure to  hold  up  the  senior  Nicholas  Vansant  and  his 
Methodist  family,  of  Lower  Bank,  Burlington  County, 
N.  J.,  as  the  natural  fruit  and  logical  result  of  the 
Church  and  the  Sunday  school,  and  as  a  model  to 
America  and  to  mankind.  These  are  the  stuff  of  which 
commonwealths  are  made  and  empires  are  builded  if 
they  are  to  stand  long;  and  would  that  our  Republic 
had  more  of  such  sturdy  and  honest  stock  !  This  little 
book  reveals  their  home  life — shows  how  ihey  began 


12 


Introduction. 


and  grew,  and  how  allei  waid  they  Ijroadened  out  into 
eminent  and  successful  ministers  and  distinguished  and 
useful  citizens,  and  gi\es  glimpses  of  Aiiierican  life  and 
charac  ter  that  cannot  fail  to  be  helpful  and  inspiring  to 
every  reader.  I  bid  it  hail  and  Oodspeed  !  And  may 
its  author  survive  long  before  he  reaches  his  own  "Sun- 
set!" James  V.  Rusling. 

Trenton,  N.  J.,  April  24,  1S96. 


PART  I. 

THE  FAMILY 


Sunset  Memories. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Family  Name. 

CONCERNING  tin-  family  name,  \'ansant,  tliere  has 
been  no  liltlc  r[)k-\it\ .  For  many  )ears  the 
impression  was  that,  at  .->omc  lime  and  lor  some  reason 
to  us  unknown,  the  old  Holland  name,  Vanzandt,  had 
been  changed  by  dropping  out  the  </ and  substituting  j- 
for  z;  but  a  careful  examination  several  years  ago  satis- 
fied me  that  this  theory  was  incorrect,  and  that  our 
long-standing  mode  of  spelling  the  name  agrees  more 
nearly  than  any  other  with  the  original  form. 

Making  a  search  in  the  county  clerk's  office  of  Rich- 
mond County,  N.  V.,  in  1879,  I  found  a  deed,  dated 
.May  2,  1706,  the  fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne, 
of  England,  conveying  land  to  Aries  Jansen  by  Stoffel 
and  Rachel  Vansant,  the  last  name  of  each  of  the 
grantors  being  spelled  as  here  written,  without  the  z  or 
the  d.  The  search  was  made  by  request  of  George  H. 
Vanzandt,  of  Thiladelphia,  counselor  at  law,  who  had 
been  giving  diligent  attention  to  the  subject  of  his  own 
family  pedigree,  and  incidentally  of  ours.  From  him  I 
learned  many  interesting  facts,  some  of  which  are  given 
in  the  forioTrmg  extracts  from  his  correspondence: 

"I  am  engaged  in  lookfng  tlie  genealogy  of  some 
members  of  the  A'anzandt  family — those  descended  from 
Stojihel  \'anzandt,  formerly  of  Port  Richmond,  Staten 


16 


Sunset  Memories. 


Island,  wlio  settled  there  about  1680,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  wiiere  for  some  time  lie 
was  a  trustee  of  IJensalcm  I'resbyterian  Cluirch.  ...  I 
suppose  we  have  the  same  common  ancestor.  We  have 
traced  matters  back  to  Staten  Island.  Rev.  Dr.  Brown- 
lee,  of  the  Reformed  l)ut<  h  Chun  h,  of  Port  Richmond, 
writes  that  Slophel  \'an/ant  had  his  son  Stophel  bap- 
tized October  22,  1701,  and  his  daughter  So])hia  in 
1706;  so  it  appears  on  tiie  records  of  the  church." 

Here  we  must  jiausu  to  note  this  medley  of  names  re- 
lating to  the  same  persons — in  my  correspondent's  let- 
ter Vanzandt,  in  the  baptismal  record  Van/ant,  but  in 
the  deed  of  conveyance  Vansant.  Do  these  variatiDiis 
seem  strange.^  Especially,  do  they  invalidate  the  liis- 
torical  fa(  ts  related.''  No  one  is  stujjid  enougli  to  hold 
this.  These  dist  repancies  in  the  (jrtliography  of  proper 
names,  as  in  hundreds  of  other  things,  are  constantly 
occurring.  Talk  of  various  readings  in  the  ancient 
manuscri])ts  of  the  ]>ible!  Other  old  writings  of  re- 
nown reveal  even  greater  variations;  but  they  are  not 
rejected  as  spurious  on  this  account,  nor  must  the  Bible 
be  thrust  aside  because  of  its  various  readings  or  its 
apparent  discrepancies.  Was  Stophel  Vansant  a  myth 
■because  his  name  was  spelled  in  several  different  ways.^ 
Not  at  all,  but  a  veritable  man,  who  lived  and  moved 
and  had  his  being  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury and  beginning  of  tlie  eighteenth. 

Now  we  turn  again  t(j  the  correspondence  concerning 
him: 

"Note  particularly  from  whence  he  came,  wliich  I  sup- 
pose to  be  either  Xanten,  in  Germany,  where  the  fam- 
ily became  Huguenots,  or,  previous  to  that,  from  San- 
tona,  on  the  Bay  of  I.iscay,  in  the  north  of  Spain,  where 
I  suppose  they  were  good  Catholics.  .  .  .  He  imported 
from  Holland  the  bricks  of  which  his  house  was  built. 


The  Family. 


17 


.  .  .  The  Vanzandts  in  tlie  old  deeds  of  Bucks  County 
spell  llieir  n.iuu;  :is  al)()ve  written.  Tlie  family  were 
originally  Spaniards  and  Catholics  of  Sanlona  (luigi'nie's 
watering  place  on  the  l>ay  of  Piiscay  in  the  north  of 
Spain),  and  I  sui)pose  spelled  their  name  either  Santon 
or  Santoiia,  that  town  having  been  cither  named  after 
them  or  they  having  taken  their  name  from  the  town. 
Near  it  is  also  the  town  of  Santander,  which  is  also  the 
name  of  a  province  in  Spain.  In  Holland,  in  Groningen, 
is  a  town  called  't  Zand;  in  Prussia  (Westphalia),  just, 
below  Wesel,  is  the  town  of  Xanten  ;  and  in  Drenthe, 
Holland,  is  the  town  of  Zandberg.  I  may  also  say  that 
in  Texas  is  a  county  named  Van  Zandt,  after  a  cousin 
of  my  father's,  who  negotiated  or  made  the  treaty  for 
the  admission  of  Texas  into  the  Union." 
He  continues: 

"The  Vansants,  Santons,  or  Santoiias  went  up  with 
Alva  or  Parma  inlo  the  Netherlands  to  persecute  the 
Dutch.  They  were  people  of  some  consequence,  whO' 
gave  name  to  pne  province  and  two  towns  in  Spain, 
three  towns  in  Holland,  and  one  county  in  the  United 
States.  Settling  in  Iloiland,  they  married  Dutch  Hu- 
guenot wives,  became  Huguenots  themselves,  and  as 
such  settled  on  Staten  Island.  Those  who  prefer  the 
Spanish  form  spell  their  name  Sant,  or  Santen,  or  San- 
ton; those  who  )»refer  the  Dutch  or  Cerman,  as  I  always 
have,  take  tin-  Dutch  form.  /'(///  or  7<oii  is  a  title  of  dis- 
tinction in  (k  rm.in)." 

From  these  interesting  statements,  the  fruit  doubtless 
of  much  carefni  research,  it  seems  plain  enough  that, 
this  old  family  name,  however  spelled  or  whatever  its 
Dutch  niodilications  or  accretions,  had  a  genuine  Span- 
ish origin.  Of  this  fact,  indeed,  no  Protestant  bearing 
tlie  name  can  ever  feel  proud,  especially  when  he  recol- 
lects that  onl)'  four  centuries  ago  Spain  was  the  chief 


18 


Sunset  Memories. 


center  of  that  consummate  iniquity  of  the  Romish 
Church,  the  Inquisition. 

But,  amid  all  the  dark  chapters  of  Spanish  history, 
there  sliines  out  that  one  luminous  page,  the  brightness 
of  which  can  never  be  dimmed — the  ])age  which  Ijears 
the  illustrious  name  of  Christopher  Columbus.  Not 
being  a  native  of  Sjiain,  but  of  Genoa,  in  Italy,  it  must 
all  the  more  stand  to  the  credit  of  Spain  that  Colum- 
bus, after  having  api)lied  to  various  courts  without  avail 
during  long  years  of  disappointment  and  waiting,  was 
enabled  to  prosecute  his  coveted  work  of  discovery  un- 
der the  auspices  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  of  Spain, 
"though  the  honor  of  ha\ing  aided  the  great  navigator 
belongs,  not  to  Ferdinand,  but  to  Isabella,  a  woman  of 
remarkable  energy  and  talent,  and  possessed  of  no  in- 
considerable beauty  and  much  winning  grace."  The 
late  and  great  Columbian  Fair  at  Chicago  has  made  our 
own  country  and,  indeed,  the  civilized  world  familiar 
with  Columbian  and  Spanish  history  as  never  before. 
Henceforward  we  can  scarcely  think  of  this  vast  Amer- 
ican continent  without  also  thinking  of  its  renowned 
discoverer  and  his  queenly  patroness. 

Doubtless  our  family  name  has  come  to  stay;  and  so 
we  will  neither  regretfully  deplore  it  nor  vainly  bf)ast  of 
it,  whatever  may  be  its  true  orthography  or  its  re.il  etymol- 
ogy. I  must,  however,  express  a  cordial  sympathy  with 
my  Philadelphia  corres])ondent  in  his  decided  preference 
for  the  Dutch  form  of  spelling,  since  our  family  ]irefer- 
ence  is  at  least  ecpially  decided  in  favor  of  the  Spanish 
form. 

Incidentally,  this  has  sometimes  proved  an  agreeable 
service,  as  when,  several  years  since,  a  son  of  the  writer 
went  to  Ilaltimore,  Mtl.,  an  almost  total  stranger,  to  en- 
gage in  mercantile  business.  One  of  the  old  and  hon- 
ored residents  of  that  city  was  Joshua  Vansanl,  who 


The  Family. 


19 


Diice  or  oftencr  had  served  as  mayor,  and  wlio  for  many 
years  liad  lield  tlie  office  of  city  comptroller,  in  wiiicli, 
by  liis  proverbial  economy,  carefulness,  and  iionesty,  he 
liad  won  the  odd  Init  honorable  sobriquet,  "  watciidop; 
of  the  city  treasury."  Tlie  young  stranger,  bearing  his 
ocact  family  name,  tliongii  not  at  ail  related,  soon  found 
an  answer  to  tlie  cpiestion,  "  ^\'hat's  in  a  name?  "  for  liis 
own  had  l)ecome  so  well  and  fasorably  known  in  busi- 
ness circles  througli  that  long-trusted  citizen  as  to  be- 
come substantially  helpful  to  him  in  winning  an  honest 
success. 


20 


Sunset  Memories. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Parents. 


V   father's    ("liristian    name    was    Nicholas.  But 


*  '  *  whctlicr  lie  was  so  {  ailed  in  lienor  of  any  one  of 
the  five  Roman  i)onlilTs  bearing  lliat  name,  or  of  the 
highly  i)opular  Si.  Nicholas,  liishoji  of  Myra,  who  for 
more  than  fourtei  n  (  enturies  has  been  regarded  in  Cath- 
olic countries  as  the  especial  i)atron  of  the  young  and 
whose  Christmas  fame  has  become  so  world-wide,  I  have 
no  certain  means  of  determining;  but  we  are  quite  con- 
tent to  believe  that  it  had  no  ])oipish  origin. 

^\'ilen  a  \  ery  small  l)oy  I  fancied  that  lie  might  have 
taken  his  name  from  the  august  Nicholas  I,  FLnii)eror  of 
Russia.  T.ut  as  I  became  better  ac(|uainted  with  his- 
tory I  found  this  fancy  (|uite  exploded  by  the  fact  that 
the  emperor  was  not  born  until  some  )'ears  after  my 
father,  to  which  was  added,  by  way  of  "cumulative  ev- 
idence," the  furtiuT  fact  that  Nicholas  I  did  not  succeed 
to  the  Russian  throin^  until  December,  1S25,  previous  to 
which  his  name  and  his  fame  could  have  been  but  little 
known  in  American  homes  ;  and  at  that  date  my  father 
was  approaching  middle  life! 

(  )ne  ollu-r  < onjei  ture  remains.  .As  he  and  my  mother 
ga\'e  s(  riplure  names  to  all  of  their  ele\en  children,  so 
his  ])arcnts,  who  were  reverent  believers  in  the  Bible, 
ni.iy  ha\  e  adopted  for  him  the  name  of  one  of  the  seven 
dt'a(  ()nsat  Jerusalem,  the  slight  difference  in  the  orthog- 
raph) — Nicolas  and  Nicholas — being  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  one,  in  derivation  and  form,  is  Latin,  and  the  other 
Creek.  According  to  ^Vcl)ster,  the  two  names  are  iden- 
tical in  their  heroic  signification — "victory  of  the  jjeoplc." 


The  Family. 


21 


This  name  iins  been  <j;rentl)'  aspersed  by  tlic  nilcgation  tliat 
the  wise  anil  good  deaeon  of  Acls  \  i,  5,  fell  from  grace, 
and  became  toiiiulcr  of  the  corruiit  sect  of  Nicoiaitans 
so  strongly  condeniiied  in  Re\'.  ii,  6,  15.  The  decided 
weight  of  o|)inioii.  iogi<',  and  i)rol)al)dil}-  among  the  com- 
mentalors  seetns  to  be  against  this  damaging  assumption. 

'I'iiere  is  anotlier  name  in  wliich  I  feel  a  deep  ar.d 
tender  interest — that  of  our  mother;  an  unusual  name, 
tiiougii  not  an  unusual  word.  It  occurs  in  the  liibie 
two  hundred  ami  se\  ent)'-two  times,  and  is  a  soft,  gen- 
tle, tender  word  of  two  sy  llables — "  Mercy." 

Never  did  a  woman's  name  give  more  fitting  ex])res- 
sion  to  character  than  did  this  name  of  our  mother.  A 
plain,  practi(  al  woman,  of  large  common  sense,  witli  a 
heart  and  life  san(  tified  by  grace,  she  was  a  mother  to 
be  respected,  esteemi'd,  and  lo\ed. 

Both  she  and  father  h  id  become  Christians  and  mem- 
bers of  tiie  Metliodist  h-piscopal  Church  before  their 
marriage,  wliich  occurred  Decemlier  23,1808,  a  mar- 
riage followed  b\-  their  ha|)p\',  lov  ing  union  as  husband 
anil  wW'c  lor  more  than  sevent)'  years,  each  of  them 
(l\  ingat  last  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  life — the  date  of 
his  liirlh  bi-ing  Novend)er  9,  17S8,  and  that  of  his  death 
March  6,  1879,  her  birtli  occurring  March  13,  17S9,  and 
lier  death  January  8,  1S80.  Thus  beginning  and  clos- 
ing life  but  a  few  months  a])art,  the  legacy  they  left  be- 
hind them,  though  small  in  earthly  treasure,  was  great 
in  purity  of  cliaracter,  in  fer\'or  of  piety,  in  chasteness 
of  coiu'crsat  ion,  in  frugal  iudiistrx-  of  habits,  in  consist- 
ency of  Christian  de])oitment,  and  in  a  calm,  unfalter- 
ing, holy  trust  in  death. 

ANCESTRY  AND  KAUl.V  l.IKK  OK  l  ATIIKl^ 

His  forefathers  came  from  .Amsterdam,  Holland,  and 
settled    on   the    Delaware    River   abovi;  I'hihulelphia, 


22 


Sunset  Memories. 


at  a  place  called  Shamony,  which  is  described  in  the 
early  editions  (jf  Lippiiicott's  Gazctlrrr  "  a  post  office  of 
Burlington  County,  N.  J  ,"  thougli  the  name  was  long 
since  superseded,  no  doubt,  by  another  for  the  same 
•place.  From  there  his  grandfather  removed  to  New 
England,  where  his  father  was  born,  and,  on  arriving  at 
manhood,  married.  His  fatlier's  earlier  years  were 
spent  in  following  the  sea,  and  often  making  long  voy- 
ages to  foreign  ports;  but  at  length  he  came  to  New 
Jersey  and  settled  at  "The  Forks  "on  Mullica  River, 
Gloucester,  now  Atlantic,  County,  and  engaged  in  ves- 
sel building.  He  also  owned  a  place  at  New  Columbia, 
a  few  miles  above,  where  a  part  of  the  time  he  resided. 
It  was  here  that  liis  youngest  child  was  born  and  took 
the  name  Nicholas.  Father,  in  making  this  state- 
ment to  me  as  he  lay  in  bed,  remarked,  "  Tliis,  I  sup- 
pose, is  the  very  bedstead  upon  wliicli  I  was  laid  for  the 
first  time,"  showing  with  what  care  that  article  of  furni- 
ture had  been  jjreserved  as  a  family  heirloom. 

'Vo  the  teaciiings  of  his  mother  he  chiefly  owed  his 
early  religious  impressions,  though  she  at  that  time  was 
not  a  professing  Christian.  She  often  told  him  of  the 
preaching  of  David  Braincrd,  and  taught  him  the  doc- 
trine of  future  rewards  and  punishments,  whicii  made  a 
deep  impression  on  his  young  mind.  Nor  was  this  labor 
lost,  either  as  to  him  or  herself,  his  early  conversion 
being  followed  not  k)ng  after  by  her  own,  which  was 
brought  about  in  no  small  degree  through  his  instru- 
mentality, as  the  following  incident  will  sliow.  Being 
greatly  bunlened  for  his  mother  he  made  her  conver- 
sion a  subject  of  special  and  earnest  prayer.  Religious 
service  was  then  held  in  tlie  neigliborliood  on  a  certain 
day  of  the  week  ;  and  wliile  on  his  way  to  the  meeting 
he  turned  aside  in  the  woods,  where  In;  sjient  a  consid- 
erable time  in  prayer  for  the  object  that  lay  nearest  his 


The  Family. 


23 


heart.  Before  he  arose  lie  felt  an  assurance  that  his 
prayer  was  heard  and  would  s|)eedily  be  answered. 
Shortly  after  the  service  began  the  words  of  the 
preacher  found  way  to  her  heart,  and  she  cried  out  for 
mercy  under  her  keen  convictions.  Soon  her  mourn- 
ing was  turned  to  rejoicing,  and,  though  she  had  always 
been  very  much  opjjosed  to  shouting,  as  also  to  class 
meetings,  she  pr.iised  God  aloud,  and  thenceforward  be- 
came a  regular,  happy  attendant  upon  the  means  of 
grace,  which  hitherto  she  had  so  much  des])ised. 

When  he  was  about  three  years  of  age  his  parents 
had  removed  to  Bass  River,  now  New  Gretna,  Burling- 
ton County,  which  a  few  years  later  became  his  spiritual 
birthplace,  and  subsequently  the  scene  of  his  mother's 
conversion  as  just  narrated.  Here  as  he  grew  up  he 
devoted  himself  to  farming,  applying  his  wages  to  the 
support  of  his  parents,  the  father  having  become  too 
old  and  infirm  to  continue  the  business  of  his  trade. 
Though  the  son  was  but  little  more  than  twelve  at  his 
conversion  and  gave  promise  of  great  stability  and  use- 
fidness,  taking  delight  in  all  the  means  of  grace,  and 
especially  in  reading  and  studying  the  hymn  book  of 
the  Church,  yet  at  length,  strangely  enough,  his  religious 
zeal  declined  and  he  lajised  into  a  cold,  backslidden 
state,  but  without  falling  into  gross  outward  sins. 
Happily  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  renewed,  from 
which  time,  forgetting  the  things  that  were  behind 
and  reaching  forth  to  those  which  were  before,  he 
steadily  pressed  forward  during  .ill  the  years  that  fol- 
lowed toward  the  goal  of  eternal  life. 

In  1814,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  he  went  out  to 
serve  in  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  was  stationed 
at  Cape  May  awaiting  orders;  but  after  remaining  there 
a  few  months  he  was  allowed  to  hire  a  substitute,  with 
the  understanding  that  his  own  name  should  be  con- 


24 


Sunset  Memories. 


tinned  on  the  roll  and  his  substitute  answer  to  it.  Not 
lont^  after  he  began  to  devote  himself  to  his  father's 
business  as  a  siii[)wriL!,ht,  in  the  active  prosecution  of 
which  he  continued  well  nigh  half  a  century.  When, 
several  years  ago,  (Congress  enacted  a  law  providing 
for  the  payment  of  jjensions  to  the  few  remaining  sol- 
diers of  the  war  of  1812  father's  name  became  entered 
upon  the  pension  roll,  and  thenceforward  to  thic  close  of 
his  life  he  was  a  grateful  recijjient  of  the  annual  allow- 
ance thus  i)rovided  for. 

SUMM.VRY  OF  LATER  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER. 

The  summary  that  follows  was  prepared  by  the  writer 
soon  after  father's  death,  and  is  here  given  without  es-, 
sential  change  or  alteration. 

The  Re\'.  Nicholas  Vansant,  Sr.,  was  born  at  New 
Columbia,  near  Pleasant  Mi'.ls,  .Atlantic,  then  Gloucester,. 
County,  N.  J.,  November  9,  17.SS,  and  died  at  Lower 
15ank,  Burlington  County,  N.  |.,  March  6,  1879,  having 
attained  the  venerable  age  of  ninety  years  and  four 
months,  less  three  days.  lie  was  connected  with  a 
long-lived  family,  his  father  and  mother,  with  several  of 
his  brothers  .ind  sisters,  having  died  at  a  greatly  ad- 
vanced age.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
('hurch  when  about  t'ighteen,  so  that  his  entire  mem- 
bership in  the  Church  covered  a  period  of  over  seventy- 
two  years. 

The  exact  time  when  he  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter 
is  liol  know  n,  nor  is  the  prei  ise  date  of  his  first  local 
]ireacher's  license  at  hand;  but  his  ordination  jiarch- 
nu  nt  shows  that  he  was  ordained  a  local  deacon  by 
Uishop  Iledding  Ajiril  17,  i.S3r,  which  office  he  fdled 
with  great  acceptability  and  usefulness  for  nearly  forty- 
eight  years.  1 

The  number  of  marriages  solemnized  by  him  during 


The  Family. 


25 


tiiis  period  was  two  luiiulicd  ami  twenty-seven,  as  ap- 
pears from  his  carefully  preserved  records. 

The  last  baptism  administered  ijy  him  took  |)lace  at 
a  camp  meeting  held  near  Green  Bank  in  July,  1877,  the 
subject  being  a  grandchild  of  his  greatly  esteemed 
friend  and  fellow-laborer  in  tiie  local  ministry,  tiie  Hon. 
Joel  Haywood.  He  was  to(j  nearly  blind  to  perform 
the  whole  service;  but,  others  having  read  the  pre- 
scribed ritual,  he  ap|)liLd  the  water  in  tlie  name  of  tlie 
Holy  Trinity,  his  liaiid  being  guided  to  the  tender  in- 
fant's liead  by  the  hand  of  one  of  his  sons.  It  was  a 
beautiful  and  touching  scene. 

He  livetl,  not  only  to  sec  .ill  his  (  liiklren  and  many  of 
iiis  chihiren's  children  converleil  and  members  of  tiie 
same  Church  with  himself,  but  was  also  blessed  in  hav- 
ing four  of  his  sons  enter  the  itinerant  ministry,  another 
son  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  a  sixth  lu^nored  with  a 
local  pre. teller's  ordination,  and  the  seventli  intrusted 
with  various  official  positions  in  the  Church. 

The  following  may  Ik;  mentionetl  as  among  the  lead- 
ing traits  of  his  character: 

1.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseveraiK  e  in 
his  business  relations.  I"^)r  many  years  he  iirosecuted 
the  work  fif  vessel  building  with  great  success,  and  not 
a  few  of  those  who  came  after  him  in  the  same  business 
were  largely  indebted  to  his  knowledge  and  skill  for 
their  later  success. 

2.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  and  a  devout  student  of 
the  Bible.  His  habit  was  to  read  some  portion  of  it 
every  day;  nor  did  he  lose  his  interest  in  it  after  he 
had  become  too  blind  to  read  it  with  his  own  eyes. 
His  beloved  wife,  whose  siglit  yet  remained  good,  con- 
tinued his  long  established  habit  by  reading  a  chapter 
or  more  every  morning  and  evening  in  conne(  lion  with 
their  family  worship.    And  so  well  stored  had  his  mind 


26 


Sunset  Memories. 


become  with  its  precious  truths  that  lie  was  often  lieard 
reciting  large  portions  of  it  to  iiiniself,  or  lor  the  con- 
venience and  iielp  of  some  of  the  grandcliiidren  living 
near,  wlio  not  unfreijuently  applied  to  him  for  aid  in  the 
pre[)aration  of  tiieir  Sunday  scliool  lessons. 

3.  He  was  eminently  faitliful  in  his  attendance  upon 
the  public  and  social  means  of  grace.  The  preaching  of 
the  word,  the  prayer  service,  and  the  class  meeting  were 
sure  of  his  })resence  unless  some  providential  hindrance 
prevented,  iind  after  his  sight  luul  become  too  dim  for 
him  to  go  alone,  his  form  still  remaining  erect,  he  would 
cheerily  say  to  his  faithful  wife,  as  with  bent  form  she 
led  him  along,  "  You  can  be  eyes  to  m-,  and  I  will  be  a 
staff  to  you." 

4.  His  strict  attention  to  family  worship,  already 
hinted  at,  needs  to  be  emphasized.  Not  only  were  his 
nine  children  as  they  grew  up  required  to  be  present, 
but  during  the  long  years  in  which  he  carried  on  his 
business  extensively,  cm|)loying  large  numbers  of  work- 
men and  apprentices,  he  made  it  a  fixed  rule  that  all 
who  ex])ected  to  eat  at  his  table  should  attend  the  family 
devotions,  which  always  preceded  the  morning  meal. 

5.  He  attached  great  importance  to  the  duty  of  secret 
prayer.  Besides  maintaining  a  constant  spirit  of  prayer, 
he  had  his  stated  seasons  of  jorivate  devotion,  which  he 
observed  with  great  regularity  day  by  day,  not  allowing 
business  or  visitors  or  aught  else  to  rob  him  of  this  en- 
joyment. Among  his  specij^il  subjects  of  prayer  were  his 
own  children,  for  each  of  whom  he  statedly  i)rayed  by 
name. 

6.  He  was  eminently  loyal  to  the  doctrines  and  Disci- 
pline of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cinirch.  The  long 
line  of  pastors  in  the  localities  where  he  lived  found  in 
him  a  true  friend  and  fellow-helper.  Though  most  un- 
obtrusive in  spirit  and  manner,  he  was  always  ready  to 


The  Family. 


27 


licrtorm  official  lUity  wiicncvcr  called  upon  by  his  pastors 
()|-  liiclliicn.  He  was  (|uick  to  notice  llie  least  deviation 
from  strict  orthodoxy  in  the  puliiit,  and  witli  s^reat  mod- 
esty and  genlleness  would  seek  to  correct  it. 

7.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  progressiveiiess.  Old 
age  brought  not  with  it  to  him  a  sour,  complaining  spirit, 
,is  is  too  often  the  case.  On  tlie  contrary,  he  kept 
abreast  of  tht;  times  as  they  ad\anceil,  readii)'  acceiiting 
all  needfid  changes  and  improvements  in  the  Churcii 
and  the  community,  neser  saying  in  a  spirit  of  disc(;n- 
tent  or  lault-finding,  "The  former  days  were  better  than 
these,"  His  interest  in  new  books  from  our  great  pub- 
lishing liouse,  and  esjiecially  in  The  Chiisdan  ^Idvoiate, 
which  he  took  from  its  beginning,  ccjntiniieil  without 
abatement  to  the  last.  Well  do  his  older  children  re- 
member with  what  enthusiasm  he  became  a  sidjscriber 
for  Clarke's  Coiiu/ic/itai  v,  which  was  fnst  i^sued  in  num- 
bers, and  afteiwarti  grew  into  six  stout  vohmies,  these 
becoming  supplemented  at  length  by  lienson's  Coininen- 
tary.  Words  can  scarcely  express  his  exalted  estimate 
of  these  great  comj)anion  works.  And  even  near  the 
close  of  his  extended  life  there  was  not  a  more  entliusi- 
astic  admirer  of  liisho])  Sim])sou's  Yale  IacIhics  than  he, 
who  was  a  hearer  of  them  as  they  were  read  to  him  by 
others. 

8.  As  a  i)reacher  he  was  not  only  concise  and  clear  in 
his  statements  of  scripture  truth,  but  unusually  apt  in  his 
illustrations,  ])reaching  at  times  with  great  ])Ower.  With- 
out the  culture  of  the  schools,  he  was  jironounced  by 
cultured  hearers  a  natural  orator.  His  imswerving 
fidelity  in  the  i)ulpit,  as  elsewhere,  was  honored  by  the 
great  Head  of  the  Cluirch  with  many  seals  to  his  minis- 
try. 

9.  His  record  as  an  advocate  of  the  tem|ierance  reform 
was  one  of  rare  labors  and  successes.    When,  in  1S41, 


28 


Sunset  Memories. 


lie  scttknl  at  Lower  I'.aiik  il  conI  not  a  little  to  stand  u]) 
ai^aiiist  the  ilesolatiiiL;  march  of  inteinpeiaiK  e  ;  yet  lie 
did  il  most  heroically  amid  sneers  and  st  uffs  and  threat- 
ened \iolence,  nor  was  it  in  vain.  'Then  not  less  than 
j:.i\  or  seven  licensed  hotels  were  in  full  oiierati(jn  in  the 
okl  township  of  Washington,  whereas  at  the  time  of  my 
latest  information  (iSyy)  there  was  not  to  be  found  in 
the  same  territory  more  than  cnie  su(  li  place,  and  not 
even  one  in  the  new  t(j\vnshi|)  of  l\andol|)h,  within  the 
houiuls  of  wlii(  h  he  lived  and  died.  A  similar  record 
had  been  made  1)\'  him  in  the  neii^liliorliood  of  I'ort  Re- 
])id)lic,  Atlantic  County,  where  he  resided  about  eii;hteen 
years  before  remo\iiiu;  to  another  county.  lie  practiced 
and  advot<ited  the  total  abstinence  i)riiiciple  tlare  at  a 
time  when  he  was  obliged  to  stand  almost  alone.  lJut 
the  seed  then  and  afterward  sown  has  )  ielded  a  rich 
harvest  of  blessed  residls.  Ac-corduiL;  to  our  best  infor- 
mation not  a  li(  ensed  or  unlicensed  place  exists  in  all 
that  neighborhoi nl  where  intoxicatini;  drink  is  sold. 

lo.  His  final  si(  kness  was  of  short  duration,  continu- 
ing but  four  or  fiNc  days.  He  was  thus  mercifully  ])re- 
served  from  a  long  season  of  suffeiiiig.  To  this,  how- 
ever, he  had  not  been  a  stranger  w  ithin  the  prev  ious  few 
years,  having  siiffereil  at  times  from  severe  attacks  of 
sickness,  espei  ially  in llammatoiy  rheumatism.  In  his 
last  illness  he  w  as  |jarl  of  the  time  unconscious,  and  when 
not  so  was  but  little  inclined  to  (  oiiveisalion  except  as 
he  was  roused  by  mention  of  the  juet  icnis  name  of  jesns, 
which  always  brought  forth  a  cheerful  response  as  h)ng 
as  he  was  able  to  articulate.  Said  one  of  his  S(jns  to 
him,  a  day  or  two  before  his  death,  "  I'"ather,  if  you 
should  die,  do  you  think  you  would  go  to  heaven.'  "  to 
which,  with  characteristic  motlesty,  he  answered,"! 
thinkso."  The  (|uestion  followed,  "  ITi\e  you  ever  done 
anything  to  merit  heaven.'  '.'    "No,"  said  he,  "but  it  is 


The  Family. 


29 


written,  '  Jklicvc  on  the  L(jid  Jesus  ("lirist,  and  lliou 
slialt  be  saved.'  "  Tliis  may  be  taken  as  a  true  illustra- 
tion of  his  peaceful,  trustful  frame  of  mind  until  the 
weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still. 

A  formal  review  of  the  life  and  character  of  mother 
would  here  be  approiuiate  did  s\rdcc  ])ermit  ;  yet  in 
reality  this  is  rendered  needless  by  the  summary  already 
given  of  fatlier's,  which  in  its  general  s[)irit  and  tenor 
would  ecjually  apply  to  her.  Their  lives  were  full  of  co- 
incidences,  not  only  as  to  the  times  and  i)hu  es  of  tlicir 
bii  lh,  but  also  as  to  their  early  conversion,  their  church 
relations  and  a(  ti\ities,  their  social  tasles  and  habits, 
their  general  t'liristian  character,  with  their  sjjecial  re- 
ligious experiences,  and  the  dates  of  their  fnial  departuie. 

Anecdotks  ok  Parents. 

laving  at  one  time  with  a  (Quaker,  C.  ('.,  who  was  a 
very  wi(  ked  man,  father  was  led  to  pray  that  tlie  Lord 
might  "  show  him  hell."  The  old  man  heard  of  it  and, 
meeting  him,  said,  "  Nicholas,  I  hear  thee  lias  jjrayed 
that  (]od  would  show  me  hell."  "  Ves,"  was  the  reply. 
He  became  very  much  excited  and,  raising  his  cane, 
vociferated,  "Show  me  hell?  Show  me  hell  "  l*"athei', 
approaching  him,  said  with  great  earnestness,  "  \'es,  sIkjw 
you  hell!"  whereupon  the  man  fell  j)rostrate  to  the  earth 
and  lay  there  a  short  time,  when  father  took  him  by  the 
liand  and  raised  him  up.  Afterward  lie  attended  Metho- 
dist meeting  and  showed  great  kindness  to  the  heroic 
youth  who  had  pra\  eil  for  him. 

Though  father  was  not  a  large  man,  beiiig  oidy  about 
fue  aiul  a  half  feet  in  height  and  well  iiroporlioned,  yet 
lie  was  a  man  of  great  muscular  strength,  resolute  will, 
and  unflinching  courage  in  emergencies,  these  rendering 
him  an  unsafe  man  to  trille  with.  A  bully  one  day  came 
up  behind  him  in  the  shipyard  when  he  was  bent  over 
3 


30 


Sunset  Memories. 


using  his  bro;ul;i.\  and  acted  roughly  toward  him,  l^nt, 
as  father  supposed,  oidy  in  sport.  Straightening  himself 
and  turning  around,  lie  i)layfully  raised  liis  ax  as  if  in 
self-defense,  when  lie  perceived  that  tlie  man  really 
meant  sometliing  more  tluin  rude  fun,  for  he  savagely 
rushed  toward  him  with  clinched  fists,  on  seeing  wliich 
fatlier  dioi)|)ed  his  ax  and,  striking  the  bully  a  cpiick 
blow,  sent  iiim  reeling  to  the  ground.  No  attempt  was 
made  to  renew  tiie  attack. 

During  a  camp  meeting  lield  in  Ilosca  Joslyn's  woods 
several  men  came  from  May's  Landing,  the  county  seat, 
a  few  miles  distant,  to  disturb  the  meeting.  A  con- 
stable souglit  to  arrest  tliem;  but,  armed  with  clubs,  they 
held  him  at  bay,  when  fatlier,  approaching,  said,  "  Do 
you  want  to  arrest  them?"  lie  answered,  "Yes;"  and 
lather  springing  tcjward  the  men  they  dropped  their 
clubs  and  the  officer  arrested  them.  One  of  their  num- 
ber, Mr.  ^\'ilson,  was  ])nt  in  jail — the  first  prisoner  to 
occupy  the  new  building.  Thirty  years  after  this  my 
brother  James  was  pastor  at  May's  Landnig,  and  this 
same  man,  long  before  converted,  was  one  of  the  stew- 
ards of  his  c  hurch. 

At  a  camp  meeting  held  near  New  Columbia  father  is 
reported  to  have  jjreachcd  a  sermon  of  great  ])ower. 
He  began  by  saying,  "You  boatmen,  in  going  tlown  the 
river,  don't  go  a  straight  course  or  you  would  run  on 
the  bars  and  your\'essels  get  aground  ;  but  you  keep  in 
tile  channel,  whatever  its  course  may  be.  So  to-night  I 
mean  to  keep  in  the  channel,  be  it  crooked  or  straight." 
Under  tlie  sermon  a  man  sitting  near  the  altar  fell  to 
the  ground. 

I'reac  hing  once  at  West  Creek,  he  was  drawn  out  in 
bold  denunciations  against  jirofanity.  Sabbath  breaking, 
and  kindred  vices.  When  at  the  height  of  his  fervor 
the  Rev.  Isaac  Hugg,  junior  preacher  on  the  circuit, 


The  Family. 


31 


very  tall  and  slender,  spoke  out  in  his  slirill,  feminine 
voice,  "(live  it  to  them,  lirotlier  V'ansant  !  "  to  which 
the  k  answer  was,  "  1  intentl  to  do  so,  for  1  wouUl 
rather  see  a  red-liot  devil  than  to  liear  a  man  swear." 

In  liis  advanced  years,  among  tlie  l)o)s  who  lived 
with  him  from  time  to  time  on  tlie  farm  was  Charles  11. 
McAiiney,  now  a  taientetl  and  well-known  minister  of 
the  New  \'ork  Conference.  Like  most  other  boys,  lie 
was  fond  of  fun  and  fun-making.  Seeing  lallier  one 
day  walking  out  alone,  as  he  frecjuently  eliil,  the  |)]ayful 
lad  concluded  to  ha\e  a  little  innocent  sport  with  him 
by  hiding  behirul  some  bushes  and  then,  at  the  right 
time,  rushing  out  to  slartle  him.  JUit  father's  habit  of 
devout  solilocpiy  cpiite  spoiled  tlie  well-laid  scheme.  ,\s 
'le  ai)|)ioached  Charley  heard  him  saying,  "  bless  the 
f/Ord,  ()  my  soul;  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his 
ooly  name,"  etc.  This  was  too  much  for  the  sportive 
youth,  who  (piietly  subsideil  witliout  demonstration. 

I  atld  a  few  items  toncerning  niolher.  I'rom  early 
chdtlhood  she  was  \'ery  consc  ienlious  and  tentler- 
heartetl.  When  a  small  girl,  smiting  a  bumblebee,  slie 
felled  it  to  the  ground,  but  in  turn  was  herself  smitten 
far  more  severely  by  her  own  lonsc  ience.  ( )ne  day, 
]Kcking  up  a  walnut  in  passing,  she  walked  away  with 
it;  l)ut  soon  a  distressing  sense  of  contlenmation  im- 
pelled her  to  return  and  lay  it  at  the  sjiot  where  she 
had  found  it. 

In  married  life,  amid  all  her  cares  and  toils  in  raising 
a  large  family,  she  felt  that  if  one  of  her  sons  shoidd 
become  a  ])reacher  of  the  Cospel  she  would  be  fidly 
compensated.  For  this  siie  devoutly  wished  and  i)rayed. 
How  the  Lord  rendered  far  more  than  "double"  unto  her 
in  fulfdlment  of  this  wish!  Several  times  one  marked  the 
number  of  her  sons  called  to  the  work  and  crowned 
with  the  honors  of  the  ministry  ;  nor  did  her  eompen- 


32 


Sunset  Memories. 


sation  cease  imlil  several  of  lier  sons'  sons  Iiad  been 
calietl  and  ci owned  in  like  manner.     Hai)])y  niotlier! 

She  was  a  diligent  reader  of  the  IJible  and,  liaving  a 
tenacious  nicnior)',  she  so  learned  many  portions  of  it  as 
to  be  able  to  recite  them  as  occasion  miylu  require. 
Shortly  before  her  death  she  repeated  tiie  fifth  chapter 
of  Romans  verbatim  to  one  of  her  sons. 

W'lien  fallier  was  sometimes  wakeful  at  night  she 
would  interest  him  by  (]uoting  various  hymns,  a  large 
number  of  wliich  she  had  learned.  And  he  used  to  say 
tliat,  in  conducting  religious  meetings,  wlien  he  wanted 
to  recei\e  a  sjjecial  blessing  lie  would  call  on  mother  to 
pray.  O  how  many  w  ith  graleliil  recollection  can  call 
to  mind  the  holy  fervor  and  power  of  her  testimonies 
and  her  prajers! 

In  middle  and  earlier  life  her  habit  was  to  conduct 
the  family  W{)rslii|)  in  the  absence  of  father  from  hume. 
The  writer  has  a  lively  remend)rani  e  of  some  of  those 
occasions  when  he  was  called  upon  to  lead  the  tlevotions 
in  turn  with  herself.  I!oy  as  he  was  of  unusual  bashful- 
ness,  a  timid,  trembling  novice  too  in  vocal  prayer  be- 
fore others,  he  <  oukl  well  understand  the  meaning  of 
Charles  Wesley's  poetic  Ime,  "What  though  my  shrink- 
ing llesh  (  omplain."  lUit  it  was  a  wholesome  disci|)line. 
In  their  later  years  the  husband  and  wife  led  in  ])rayer 
alternately,  the  scripture  reading  devolving  wholly  on 
her  as  his  vision  became  more  and  more  dim.  The 
devotions  alw;:ys  closed  with  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The 
leader  would  pause  after  the  extemporaneous  jjetitiuns 
and  the  other  would  lead  in  the  Lord's  Prayer.  'Phis 
double  alternation  with  its  beautiful  simplicity  was  con- 
tinued till  the  husband  "  was  not,  for  Clod  took  him." 

Not  long  before  that  taking  three  or  four  of  their 
preacher  sons,  with  some  of  the  grandchildren,  were 
gathered  at  the  house  of  the  elder  sister;  but  the  central 


The  Family. 


33 


figures  in  that  happy  sroup  were  tlie  venerable  father 
and  mother  of  us  all.  The  delights  of  that  evening  are 
still  a  sweet  fragrance  in  the  memory.  The  interview 
was  closed  with  a  brief  prayer  service,  and  chief  among 
those  who  led  was  the  veteran  father,  yielding  to  a  com- 
mon request.  That  jirayer  carried  us  back  to  years 
long  gone,  but  never  to  l)e  forgotten.  The  prayer 
ended,  but  we  arose  not,  for  the  lips  that  uttered  it  rev- 
erently said,  "Mother,  pray  tlie  I.nrd's  Prayer;"  and  in 
devout  concert  we  all  joined  our  tender  voices  witli  that 
of  the  loved  and  loving  leader. 

Many  years  before  her  translation  by  death  she 
dreamed  a  dream,  in  which  the  Lord  said  to  her,  "I 
have  made  thy  heart  pure  and  wliite."  Was  it  all  a 
dream  ?  She  knew  it  was  not.  Rather  was  it  the  dream 
of  a  blessed  divine  revelation  to  her  sanctified  conscious- 
ness  that  she  was  fully  saved.  In  t1iis  blissful  experi- 
ence she  lived  and  at  last  died,  wliile  all  who  knew  her 
had  full  faith  in  its  reality,  and  in  the  unfeigned  sincer- 
ity of  her  confession  and  practice  of  it. 


34 


Sunset  Memories. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Brothers  and  Sisters. 

T^WO  of  these,  Samuel  and  Phebe,  died  in  early  child- 
*    hood,  leaving  seven  brotliers  and  two  sisters  to  reacii 
adult  life  and  have  homes  of  their  own.    Their  names 
and  chief  characteristics  may  be  read  as  follows: 

John  W. — The  first  born  of  the  family,  upon  whom 
the  children  who  came  afterward  were  wont  to  look 
with  pride  as  at  once  the  eldest  and  best  of  their  num- 
ber. He  was  a  circumspect  youth,  early  converted, 
much  devoted  to  secret  prayer  and  the  other  means  of 
grace,  careful  of  his  personal  ajjpearance,  and  very  dil- 
igent in  study.  His  studious  habits  were  strongly  stim- 
ulated by  a  young  Irishman,  David  Patterson,  who  c  ame 
to  learn  the  trade  with  father  and  brought  his  books 
witli  him. 

I'  or  greater  quiet  and  convenience  in  study  Brother  John 
ert  (  ted  a  small  building  ai)arl  f rom  the  home,  where  he 
could  i)ass  all  his  spare  hours  in  conimunion  with  his 
library  and  his  God.  If  at  any  time  tlicre  seemed  to 
be  danger  of  excess  in  tliis  dirrction  a  gentle  reminder 
from  anyone  of  tlie  |irerLi)t,  "  Render  therefore  unto 
C;csar  the  things  whii  li  are  C;vsar's;  and  unto  dod  the 
things  that  are  Ciod's,"  woidd  always  serve  as  a  wliole- 
some  arbiter  between  the  conflicting  inside  claims  of 
the  study  and  the  outside  claims  of  the  shipyard.  'J'liis 
deep  interest  on  his  part  in  gaining  knowledge  exerted 
a  salutary  influence  upon  the  whole  family,  making  it 
in  no  small  degree  a  home  school  of  critics  in  grammar, 
orlhogra|)hy,  j^roiumciation,  and  the  general  use  of 
words. 


The  Family. 


35 


An  illustrative  incident  of  his  early  Cliristiaii  life  was 
this:  At  the  old  Blackman  Meetinghouse  one  evening, 
he  and  a  young  man  of  the  same  church,  Rollin  Ashley, 
having  left  after  the  public  service,  concluded  to  return 
and  hold  a  little  prayer  meeting  by  themselves.  Brother 
James,  yet  a  boy,  had  been  left  asleep  in  the  gallery; 
but  just  as  Mr.  Ashley  was  finishing  his  prayer  he  awoke 
in  the  darkness,  very  much  frightened,  and  felt  his  way 
down  as  best  he  could  to  the  main  floor.  By  this  time 
the  second  prayer  was  begun,  and  the  affrighted  boy, 
hearing  a  sound  at  the  altar,  walked  up  tlie  aisle  and 
soon  recognized  the  voice  as  that  of  his  brother  Jolm. 
For  a  moment  the  young  worshipers  were  startled  by 
what  at  first  seemed  to  them  an  apparition,  but  Avhich 
they  soon  found  was  a  veritable  liuman  being,  with  flesh 
and  bones  like  their  own. 

He  was  early  appointed  a  class  leader,  and  afterward 
licensed  as  an  exhorter,  and  a  little  later  received  a  al 
preacher's  license.  At  proiier  age  he  married,  and  not 
long  after  removed  to  the  "far  West,"  as  Ohio,  Illinois, 
and  adjacent  States  were  then  called,  settling,  after  some 
delay,  at  Rock  Island,  on  the  Mississi|i])i,  wlieie  lie  es- 
tablished a  successful  business  in  steaml)oal  l)uilding  and 
repairing.  At  length  his  business  and  residence  were 
transferred  to  Le  Claire,  la.,  where,  with  his  venerable 
wife,  he  is  now  passing  the  eventide  of  a  long  life  in  the 
quiet  of  a  well-earned  competency  and  with  "a  lively 
hope"  of  "an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undefiled, 
and  that  fadeth  not  away." 

Their  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  with  numerous 
grandchildren,  are  such  as  any  father  might  well  feel 
proud  of — all  of  them  professing  Christians,  with  per- 
haps one  exception,  and  two  of  the  sons  being  distin- 
guished as  excellent  preachers  in  the  local  ranks.  Years 
ago,  while  yet  living  at  Rock  Island,  my  brother  de- 


36 


Sunset  Memories. 


clincd  tlic  rcncwnl  of  liis  license  on  the  groiind  that 
there  was  so  Hltle  actual  need  for  a  local  preacher's 
services  in  a  city  station;  but  as  before,  so  ever  since, 
he  has  held  various  other  important  positions  in  the 
C'hurch  with  both  usefulness  to  the  people  and  honor 
to  himself.  His  son,  Nicholas  (1.,  of  Rock  Falls,  ]11.,  was 
a  lay  delegate  to  the  General  ("onference  of  1896. 

JoKi,. — The  only  one  of  the  seven  brothers  who  never 
felt  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  itinerant  or  local. 
In  common  with  the  rest,  he  was  early  called  to  the  service 
of  God  and  the  fellowship  of  his  Church;  yet  from  his 
constitutional  make-up  it  was  ])crhaps  harder  for  liim  to 
become  a  Ghrislian,  li\e  a  Christian,  and  do  Chris- 
tian work  than  for  most  of  the  others.  I  lis  was  a 
marked  indi\ idnality  and  independence;  yet  he  was  a 
mm  of  tender  sensibilities  and  warm  symi)athies.  From 
early  lile  iu'  was  full  of  mischief,  but  not  viciously  so. 

When  about  eighteen  he  was  converted  and  united 
with  the  Church,  but  afterward  lapsed  into  a  backslidden 
state,  and  sd  remained  a  few  )ears.  Getting  hold  of  his 
father's  (  lass  book,  he  eraseil  his  own  name  and  that  of 
his  cousin,  [osiah  Carter;  but  he  was  very  unhajipy,  and 
one  niL;ht  bi'came  so  distressed  that  he  sent  for  father 
to  come  and  minister  relief  to  his  agonized  mind. 

'I'houi^h  of  rather  slender  frame,  he  was  understood  to 
be  a  man  of  gri'at  i)liysi(  al  ner\  e  power  and  strength,  so 
that  lliose  of  pugilistic  tendencies  were  gcnerall)'  afraid  to 
encounter  him.  He  was  content  never  to  make  attacks, 
but  only  to  defend  himself  against  them,  which  he  al- 
ways did  with  consummate  skill  and  success.  The  story 
of  some  (if  these  fcals,  as  we  have  heard  itfrom  his  own 
lips,  has  been  stirring  indeed,  almost  startling. 

During  a  i)art  of  his  backslidden  life  he  worked  a 
considerable  distance  from  home,  but  was  constantly 
followed  by  the  prayers  of  his  yearning  parents,  and  at 


The  Family. 


37 


length  the  answer  came  in  a  deep  impression  that  tlieir 
"  wandering  boy  "  was  saved — an  imjjrrssion  so  strong 
that  each  was  led  to  say  to  the  other,  "  Jotl  is  con- 
verted." And  so  it  proved,  for  a  message  soon  after 
fully  confirmed  their  comforting  belief 

In  course  of  time  he  became  a  class  leader  and  stew- 
ard, holding  these,  witli  sometimes  otlier,  offices  in  the 
various  localities  wliere  lie  resided.  His  singing  talent 
was  a  source  of  enjoyment  to  liimsclf  and  of  great  use- 
fulness to  tlie  people  with  whom  lie  worsliijjed;  Init  in 
this  rc-pe<  t  two  or  more  of  liis  sons  have  quite  out- 
stripi)ed  ihe  father. 

In  his  more  vigorous  years  he  was  known  as  an  expert 
at  his  trade,  never  finding  an  ecpial,  as  is  alleged,  in  the 
use  of  liis  tools.  Ihit  a  change  has  come  in  these  later 
years,  not  only  by  reason  of  advancing  age,  but  also 
and  especially  through  the  heavy  pressure  of  multiplied 
afflictions.  Not  to  speak  of  jiecuniary  losses,  the  dark 
shadows  of  bereavement  in  successive  visitations  have 
sadly  dimmed  tlie  light  of  his  home  and  his  heart  :  his 
ciieerftil  Lizzie,  d)  ing  amid  the  sweet  endearments  of 
youthful  motherhood  ;  his  devoted  Madeline,  arrested  in 
the  busy  career  of  a  useful  maidenhood;  his  gentle 
Doughty,  summoned  from  the  lender  rel.it ionshii)s  of 
husband  and  father;  and,  heaviest  of  all  to  bear,  his  be- 
loved Catherine,  the  cherished,  painstaking  wife  of  his 
youth  and  of  his  riper  years  until  old  age  had  stolen  on 
apace — all  these  overtaken  by  lingering  sickness  and 
borne  away  to  the  grave  at  i):iinfi.lly  brief  intervals,  mak- 
ing his  once  happy  home  a  desolation,  and  leaving  ui)on 
his  sensitive  soul  and  already  enfeebled  body  the  deep 
impress  of  an  ineffaceable  sorrow.  Yet  he  murmurs  not, 
but  day  by  day  is  watching  and  waiting  in  ])rayerful 
l)atience  until  his  own  change  shall  come. 

I  only  add  that  when,  a  boy  of  fourteen,  T  stood  be- 


38 


Sunset  Memories. 


fore  the  altar  of  the  old  Blackman  Meetinghouse  and 
gave  my  name  to  the  Cliurch  it  was  my  brother  Joel 
wiio  said  to  me  with  a  warm  grasp  of  tlie  hand,  as  we 
met  at  the  close  of  the  service  in  front  of  the  venerable 
edifice,  "You  have  engaged  in  a  good  cause;  be  faithful 
unto  deatli."  The  words  were  few,  but  O  liow  welcome 
and  encouraging!  And  all  through  the  years  that  have 
since  come  and  gone  tliey  have  have  been  sacredly 
treasured  up  in  the  casket  of  a  grateful  memory. 

Since  the  above  was  written  the  end  has  come.  He 
l)eacefuily  slept  in  Jesus,  November  5,  1895,  at  the  home 
of  our  brother  Nathaniel,  Lower  Bank,  N.  J.,  and  was 
laid  beside  his  cherished  dead  in  the  neighborhood  ceme- 
tery. 

James. — Chief  of  tlie  two  facetious  brothers  of  the  fam- 
ily. When  about  thirteen  he  started  to  be  religious, 
through  the  agency  of  his  brotlier  Joiin.  His  fervor  in 
worsliip  was  very  marked,  and  on  one  occasion  he  be- 
came (juite  unconscious  of  his  surroundings,  continuing 
on  his  knees  praying  and  rejoicing  till  tiie  meeting  had 
closed  without  his  knowledge.  He  asked  advice  about 
joining  the  Church,  the  advice  being  against  it;  but 
when  the  time  came  for  persons  to  join  he  felt  con- 
strained to  go  forward,  and  the  preacher,  tlie  Rev.  James 
Ayars,  putting  his  arm  around  liim,  said,  "  God  bless  the 
boy!"  For  a  year  he  was  very  faithful;  then  his  reli- 
gi(Mis  course  began  to  be  a  zigzag  one,  and  at  length  he 
lost  his  menibershii)  in  the  ("hurch,  which,  however,  was 
soon  ri'iicwed. 

In  liis  early  manhood  he  was  licensed  to  exhort  by 
the  Kcv.  lulward  I'age.  and  about  a  year  later  received 
a  !()(  al  prcarher's  lie  ense,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Christopher 
biing  preacher  in  cliarge.  He  was  greatly  exercised 
about  de\()ting  iiiniself  to  the  itinerant  work;  but  his 
wife  (he  was  married  very  young)  showed  a  strong  aver- 


The  Family. 


39 


sion  to  it,  whereupon  lie  laid  tlie  sul)jcrt  before  tlie  Lortl. 
saying,  "  Lord,  if  under  the  circumstances  it  is  lliy  will 
that  I  should  go  let  me  be  without  work;  if  not,  give  me 
a  contrary  sign."  Soon  after  two  gentlemen  called  to 
engage  him  to  build  a  large  vessel,  and  he  arranged  with 
them  to  do  so.  The  next  ten  years  continued  full  of 
work,  enabling  him  to  make  several  thousand  dollars 
more,  jirobably,  than  any  other  builder  in  the  county. 

Near  the  close  of  this  decade  the  beloved  wife  of  his 
youth  sickened  and  died.  Presiding  Elder  Isaac  N. 
Felch  suggested  that  now  he  ought  to  give  himself  up 
wholly  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  which  he  decided  to 
do,  going  out  on  his  first  circuit  under  Presiding  Elder 
Thomas  Sovereign  in  the  spring  of  1^55. 

In  course  of  time  he  married  another  excellent  woman, 
who,  after  thirteen  years  of  happ)-  wedded  life,  died 
with  great  suddenness  while  away  from  home  with  her 
husband  visiting  a  former  charge.  Returning  to  the 
home  at  Swedesborough,  N.  J.,  on  Sunday  morning,  he 
arrived  just  after  the  congregation  had  gathered  for 
worship.  As  he  approached  the  parsonage,  next  door  to 
the  church,  the  children,  all  ignorant  of  what  had  be- 
fallen them,  ran  out  to  greet  father  and  mother.  Alas! 
she  was  niissii^g;  and  when  they  asked,  "  Where  is 
mother?  "  he  was  sadly  obliged  to  answer,  "  She  is  dead." 
Word  was  conveyed  to  the  church,  where  Hrother  John 
Davidson,  a  local  preacher,  arose  and  said,  "We  are 
all  mourners  to-day,"  and  soon  afterward  dismissed  the 
meeting. 

Having  passed  years  of  loneliness,  it  was  rumored  that 
he  was  again  looking  toward  marriage,  which  led  a  fel- 
low-member of  the  Conference  to  say  to  him,  "  Brother 
Vansant,  I  hear  you  are  about  to  be  married  again;"  to 
which,  with  great  solemnity  of  tone  and  manner,  he  re- 
plied, "  I  never  exjiecl  to  (  hange  another  woman's  name 


40 


Sunset  Memories. 


to  mine."  After  tiie  marriage  the  same  preacher  met 
him  and  said,  with  no  little  vigor,  "  Brother  Vansant,  you 
lied  to  me ;  you  told  me  you  never  expected  to  marry 
again."  To  this,  with  great  blandness,  the  accused 
bridegroom  replied,  "  W'iiy  no,  l)rother,  I  didn't;  I  told 
you  I  never  exjiected  to  change  another  woman's  name 
to  mine,  and  I  haven't,  for  her  name  before  our  mar- 
riage was  Rachel  Vansant,  the  exact  name  of  my  former 
wife."  The  preacher  relaxed  his  sternness  and  seemed 
satisfied. 

Many  punning  rhymes,  the  si)ontaneous  ])roducts  of 
his  fertile  brain  and  pen,  can  be  recited  by  him  at  will 
from  a  memory  which  almost  never  forgets;  and  not  a 
few  of  his  i)ieces,  both  grave  and  gay,  as  published  in 
various  newspapers,  have  displayed  the  marks  of  true 
]ioctic  genius.  However  interesting,  we  are  obliged  to 
omit  them  all. 

His  remarkable  ])Owers  of  imitation  have  not  alwaxs, 
l)erha|)s,  been  wisely  employed;  but  sometimes  they  have 
served  a  \  cry  useful  i)urpf)se,  as  the  following  instance 
will  show.  Wiiile  in  his  backslidden  slate,  working  on 
the  stage  of  a  vessel  at  bass  Ris  er  with  his  cousin,  John 
Carter,  he  recited  to  him  a  sermon  delivered  in  his  hear- 
ing by  that  prince  of  ])nlhetic  and  st irr/ig  ])reachers,  the 
Rev.  'I'homas  (\.  Stewart.  The  text  was  taken  from 
Psalm  wwii,  35:  "I  ha\e  sein  the  wicked  in  great 
power,"  (;lc.  So  complete  and  impressive  was  the  imi- 
l.ilion  that  :\n  unconverted  man  near  by,  overhearing  it, 
w.is  seized  with  conviction  and  afterward  became  con- 
verted. Several  years  having  jiassed,  it  was  announced 
that  lirother  James  would  preach  at  Catawba,  where  the 
man  now  lived,  who,  having  learned  of  the  announce- 
ment, said,  "Why,  I  have  heard  him  preach;  "  and  when 
reminded  by  some  one  that  at  the  time  he  named  iMr. 
Vansant  was  not  a  preacher,  not  even  a  Christian,  he 


The  Family. 


41 


said,  "1  don't  bcliuvc  it,  lur  no  man  could  preach  us  he 
did  witlioiit  being  a  converted  man." 

His  four  living  cluldren,  a  son  and  tliree  daughters, 
are  an  lionor  and  comfort  to  him,  and  hcli)ful  to  the 
ciiurches  in  tlie  localities  wliere  they  reside.  Oneof  the 
thrifty  merchants  of  Philadelphia  is  the  son  hearing  his 
name;  and  one  of  the  usefully  active  workers  in  the 
church  at  'I'uckerton,  N.  J.,  is  the  eldest  daughter,  Mrs. 
G.  W.  Mathis. 

He  has  given  practical  proof  of  his  belief  in  that 
])rimal  doctrine  of  Script iire,  "  It  is  not  good  that  the 
man  should  be  alone."  Having  sincerely  mourned  tlie 
ileath  of  her  whose  name  needed  no  change  to  conform 
it  to  his  own,  he  in\iteel  another  lady  u(  suit,d)le  age 
and  character  to  occujjy  her  place  in  the  home  and 
minister  to  the  needs  of  his  athancing  years. 

^\'hile  he  largely  attributes  his  vigorous  health  to  his 
facetious  spirit  and  habit  in  social  life,  many  of  his 
friends,  with  himself,  cannot  fi.el  (  ertain  thai  his  spir- 
itual influence  and  su<  (  ess  ha\  e  not  been  unla\'oralily 
affected  thereby.  He  tells  of  the  following  conversa- 
tion between  himself  and  an  intelligent  lady  of  his 
church:  "Sister,  do  )'ou  think  I  am  as  good  out  of  the 
pulpit  as  I  am  in  it?"  to  which  after  a  pause  she  made 
this  reply:  "  lirothcr  Vansant,  1  prefer  not  to  answer 
that  (piestion." 

Ri:r,i;c  c.\. — The  elderof  the  two  sisters,  and  possessed 
in  earlier  }ears  of  no  small  measure  of  personal  beauty. 
She  IkhI  some  special  advantages  of  education  in  girl- 
hood as  a  ]iupil  in  the  ])rivate  boarding  school  of  Miss 
Sarah  RicHiards,  at  (!lou(  ester  h'urnac  e,  daughte  r  of 
John  Richards,  l^sq.,  a  man  of  great  urbanity  and  ex- 
tensively engagt'd  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  The 
daughter  partook  largely  of  his  s])irit  and  manner,  ren- 
dering her  a  great  favorite  w  ith  her  pupils  and  the  com- 


42 


Sunset  Memories. 


mmiity  in  t;cncial.  ll  was  nol  wuiulcifiil,  therefore, 
llial  tlic  Ri  v.  joliii  A.  lioyle,  an  able  and  talented  min- 
ister ot  tile  I'hiladel|)liia  Conference,  should  be  drawn 
toward  her,  or  that  their  aeiiiiainlance  should  at  length 
result  ill  a  happy  marriage.  Nor  was  it  strange  that  the 
fruit  of  lliat  marriage,  in  the  person  of  the  eldest  s(jn, 
shoukl  take  the  name  of  John  Ric  haids  IJoyle,  nor  yet 
that  under  the  training  of  such  a  mother  he  shoidd  grow 
up  to  fill,  and  more  than  lill,  the  jilace  of  his  father 
(who  entered  the  ainiy  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion, 
rising  to  the  rank  of  major,  anil  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Chattanooga,  ( )ctol)er  29,  iMOj)  as  an  able  anil  dis- 
tinguished minister  of  the  Methudist  i'liiiscopal  Church, 
sU(  ll  as  he  i  ,  at  this  day.  It  was  under  the  Intel. ige  of 
this  superior  wDUian,  rei  ently  deceased,  that  my  sister 
early  received  important  and  useful  instruction  in  books 
and  general  knowledge. 

Of  her  disposititjii  it  may  be  said  that  she  was  and  is 
a  model  of  good  nature.  \V'hen  about  seventeen  she 
was  married  to  I'eter  Lane,  a  young  man  fitted  by  l)oth 
nature  and  grai  e  to  make  her  an  excellent  husljand. 
Their  mari  ieil  lile  was  a  very  happy  one,  during  which 
eleven  (  hildren  were  born  to  them.  Active  and  suc- 
cessful in  business,  a  consistent  Christian,  useful  as  a 
member  and  officer  of  the  Church,  with  superior  talent 
as  a  "sweet  singer,"  it  seemetl  to  us  all  that  death  came 
to  him  ipiite  lo<j  early,  w  hen  "  manhood's  middle  day  " 
was  but  little  ])ast,  and  when  his  large  family,  with  the 
church  and  community,  greatly  needed  his  presence, 
counsel,  and  help.  Al)oul  two  years  later  the  eldest 
daughter,  Abbie,  waved  her  last  earthly  farewell  to  lov- 
ing mother,  devoted  husband,  and  five  precious  chil- 
dren, which  was  followeil  by  the  death  of  the  latest- 
born,  Susie,  a  blooming  girl  of  great  beauty  and  promise, 
following  which  a  few  years  later  came  the  sudden 


The  Family. 


43 


sickness  and  death,  far  away  lioni  lioinc,  of  an  adult 
married  son  brariiv^  llic  latliei's  name. 

Did  the  stricken  wite  and  mother  in  all  these  ])ainfnl 
exi)eriences  "murmur  or  complain  beneath  the  chasten- 
nig  rt)d,"  or  charge  God  with  either  unkindness  or  un- 
wisdom ?  (),  how  her  lailh  rose  on  each  successive 
occasion  to  the  sublime  ahitude  of  grasping  the  simple, 
assuring  truth  so  \ariously  and  beautifidly  expressed  in 
the  mottoes,  "  lie  doelh  all  things  well,"  "Too  wise  to 
err,  too  go(jd  to  be  imkind,"  "Whom  the  Lord  iovelh 
he  cluisleneth,"  and  "  We  know  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  Clod!"  During  all 
the  lonely  years  of  her  widowhood  that  faith  has  been 
keeping  her  soul  in  [unity  and  patience  and  iiea(  e. 

Several  years  ago  one  of  the  daughters  became  the 
happy  bride  of  the  Rev.  Lewis  M.  Atkinson,  of  the  New 
Jersey  Conference,  a  very  good  preacher  and  successful 
])astor.  'I'heir  domestic  bliss  seemed  (piite  <  omplete. 
Hut  his  career,  how  short  and  fleeting!  Disease  fol- 
lowed him  with  steady  tread  until  sudden  dealli  ensued. 
Ah,  how  many  besides  a  large  circle  of  kindred  lamented 
his  early  de|)arture,  among  them  scores  and  hundreds 
who  had  been  brought  to  Jesus  under  his  ministry!  To 
cheer  the  loneliness  of  the  young  widowed  mother  and 
to  represent  the  invisible  personality  of  the  father,  there 
was  left  a  precious  boy,  whose  exi)anding  mind  it  is 
hoped  and  believed  will  adopt  for  imitation  the  pure 
ideal  of  that  father's  noble  character  and  life. 

My  sister's  maternal  love  toward  her  two  living  sons 
and  five  daughters — some  of  the  latter  of  notable  come- 
liness— ever  finds  a  ready  response  in  that  combined  filial 
regard  which  sjiontaneously  turns  toward  her  as  theircher- 
ished  ideal  of  true  excellence.  Most  of  them  are  Chris- 
tians and  walking  with  her  in  the  way  to  heaven.  Why 
should  not  this  become  speedily  true  of  every  one'' 


44 


Sunset  Memories. 


Samuei,.— The  first  of  our  adult  luinihLr  to  pioneer 
the  way  tliroiiyli  death  to  heaven.  He  was  broad  in 
genius,  in  character,  in  usefuhiess.  \Vhether  a  youth 
in  the  Ijoatyard,  or  afterward  a  jireacher  and  pastor, 
or  yet  later  a  presiding  eider  during  nearly  three  full 
terms,  he  showed  tiie  hand  oi  a  master.  His  preaching 
was  always  of  a  high  order,  but  at  camp  meetings  and 
on  other  special  occasions  it  was  often  extr.iordinary, 
eliciting  compaiisons  witli  that  of  I'itman  and  Jiartine. 
He  was  blessed  with  a  wife  wlu^se  comeliness  of  person 
and  mannei",  combined  with  lier  sociability  and  Chris- 
tian zeal,  contributed  not  a  little  to  his  i)Oi>ularity  and 
success. 

^\ath  others  he  became  interested  in  establishing  a 
camp  meeting  grounil  at  Island  Heights,  N.  J.,  where 
he  fixed  his  district  residence,  and  where  he  planned 
and  superintended  the  erection  of  a  beautiful  home, 
o\  L  i  looking  the  |)lacid  waters  of  Tom's  River  in  its 
gentle  ebb  and  How.  Ah,  little  did  he  then  think 
that  the  favorite  room  in  that  home  would  in  the  near 
future  become  to  him  a  "(  hamber  where  the  good  man 
meets  his  fata!"  l!ut  so  it  proved  in  the  quiet  e\enlitle 
of  April  24,  icSSi,  wl'.en  he  had  just  passed  the  middle 
of  his  sixtieth  year  of  life,  and  was  just  completing  the 
thirty-eighth  of  his  ministry. 

To  hve  gootlly  sons  in  that  household  there  had  been 
added  a  l(j\ely  (.laughter,  who  at  once  became  the  joy 
and  pride  of  the  whole  family.  She  was  now  in  the 
freshness  ami  bloom  of  a  charming  girlhood,  and  upon 
no  one's  heart  in  that  home,  sa\e  the  mother's,  did  the 
stroke  of  this  bereavement  fall  more  heavily  than  upon 
hers.  Yet  she  bore  it  heroically,  and  it  served  but  to 
quicken  her  ambition  to  attain  a  true  Christian  woman- 
hood, that  in  the  highest  possible  degree  she  might 
prove  a  comfort  and  help  to  her  widowed  mother.  Her 


The  Family. 


45 


yearning  aspirations  turned  toward  a  liigher  education, 
especially  in  nuisic;  and  to  this  end  she  entered  the  Bor- 
dentown  Female  College,  where  she  was  enthusiastically 
l)ursuing  her  course  when  a  fatal  typhoid  fever  stealtiiily 
enwrapjied  her  comely  form  in  its  slow  consuming  flame, 
putting  an  arrest  u[)on  all  her  studies,  withering  the 
brightest  hopes  of  herself  and  her  friends,  blighting  and 
wasting  her  stately,  womanly  i)erson,  and  leaving  behind 
only  the  urn  and  ashes  of  her  flushing,  throbbing  young 
life,  so  ])recions  and  so  promising. 

Sunday,  December  6,  1X85,  witnessed  the  return  of 
Ada's  pure  si)irit  to  dod.  The  removal  of  the  remains 
to  the  newly-desolated  home  was  followed  by  funeral 
services  at  the  Tom's  River  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  the  most  appreciative  tributes  to  iier 
character  and  worth  were  tenderly  offered  by  favorite 
ministers  and  chosen  representati\es  of  the  college. 
That  funeral  occasion,  coming  so  soon  after  the  la- 
mented father's,  and  occurring  on  the  same  spot  which 
had  then  been  suffused  by  so  many  tears,  was  more 
than  simply  impressive;  it  was  oppressive  beyond  all 
possible  description  in  words,  by  reason  of  the  double 
sorrow  which  cast  its  dark,  dense  shadow  upon  it — the 
saddest  of  all  the  funerals  witnessed  by  the  writer  dur- 
ing his  long  antl  \  aried  life. 

What  would  have  been  the  joy  of  that  father  could  he 
have  lived  a  few  years  longer  to  witness  the  advance- 
ment to  the  ministry  of  the  son  whose  name  so  fitly 
perpetuates  both  his  own  father's  and  that  of  another 
distinguished  minister  among  us!  He  would  doubtless 
have  felt  that  the  Lord  had  indeed  raised  uj)  a  worthy 
successor  to  him  in  his  cherished  life-work.  That  son 
is  the  Rev.  Samuel  Monroe  Vansant,  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference,  to  whom  there  have  descended  not  a  few 
of  the  noble  traits  that  marked  the  father.  By  his  re- 
4 


46 


Sunset  Memories. 


cent  marriage  to  Miss  I,ottie  (iertriide  Johnson,  of  New 
\'()rk  city,  a  xoiing  woman  at  once  accomplished  and 
])ractical,  lie  has  doubled  his  eciuijiment  for  his  great 
work.  May  he  more  and  more  honor  the  full  name 
that  honors  him  ! 

In  The  Alcthotiist  of  June  4,  1881,  there  appears  an 
article  with  tlic  title,  "  A  Brother's  Tribute,  by -N.  V." 
It  was  read  with  tender  interest  by  hundreds,  and  was 
copied  in  whole  or  in  part  by  various  other  papers. 
Many  desired  its  wider  circidation,  and  I  was  im]ior- 
tuned  by  some  of  the  young  men  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference  to  issue  it  in  tract  form  for  more  general 
distril)Litioii  ;  but  this  suggestion  was  ne\  er  carried  into 
elfect.  It  is  here  given  as  originally  written  and  pub- 
lished, free  from  all  the  mistakes  of  copyists: 

"  My  brother  is  dead  !  Our  domestic  circle  is  broken! 
The  keystone  of  our  family  arch  has  fallen!  Until  now 
it  consisted  of  nine  closely  cemented  stones — seven 
brothers  and  two  sisters.  Among  these  he  stood  mid- 
way, four  his  seniors  and  four  his  juniors,  the  group  on 
either  hand  embracing  three  brothers  and  one  sister. 
This  central  jilace  he  held,  not  by  age  only,  but  also  by 
will  and  character — the  fit  keystone  of  our  sacred  arch. 

"  Two  years  ago  the  patriarchal  father  and  venerable 
mother,  the  long  abiding  bases  of  the  arch,  sunk  jieace- 
fully  away  from  human  sight  under  the  pressure  of  ac- 
cumulated years,  each  having  a  few  months  before  en- 
tered the  tenth  decade  of  earthly  life.  Their  disap- 
pearance, though  so  gentle,  gave  a  shock  to  the  whole 
arch,  but  to  no  stone  composing  it  more  than  to  the  hon- 
ored one  just  fallen.  Previously  loosened  in  its  position 
by  insidious  diseases, the  loosening  seemed  to  be  hastened 
by  that  shock,  until  its  hold  was  quite  broken  and,  falling 
from  its  elevated  place,  it  dropped  into  the  dust  of  death. 


The  Family. 


47 


"  When  we  all  stood  around  the  casket  of  our  vener- 
ated sire — all  save  the  hrst-born  in  his  disiani  W  estern 
home — and  each  one's  griet  was  too  deep  tor  utterance 
in  words,  he  alone  ot  all  the  grouji  could  suninion  tiie 
self-control  to  say  before  tlie  large  assemblage  w  liat  we 
each  felt :  '  I  would  rather  possess  tiie  remembrance 
and  influence  of  m)'  father's  godly  instruction  and  holy 
life  than  to  have  placed  in  my  hands  at  this  moment 
thousands  of  dollars.' 

"  ^\'hen,  eight  montlis  after,  the  same  group  gatliered 
about  the  chu-eold  form  of  our  cherished  motlier  and 
gazed  upon  her  countenance,  so  gentle  in  life  and  so 
jilacid  in  death,  then  glanced  at  the  modest  wreath  of 
wheat  tliat  lay  upon  the  casket,  it  was  he  who  again 
spoke  in  a  clear,  full  \di(  e  and  said,  'If  it  is  ripened 
wheat,  it  will  do,'  and,  ha\  ing  with  liis  now  moveless 
fingers  made  satisfactory  examination,  he  added  in  ten- 
der, sulxlued  accents,  '  It  is  ripe — it  will  do.' 

"As  we  grew  up  togetlier,  we  were  not  only  next  each 
other  in  age,  but  almost  e(puil  in  size,  he  being  in 
stature  behind  his  years  and  myself  in  ads  ance  ;  so  that 
he  was  often  taken  for  tlie  younger  brcjilici',  tliough  in 
fact  the  elder.  These  and  other  rir(  umstances  tended 
to  unite  us  in  a  closer  sNnipatliy  and  companionship 
than  most  others  of  the  home.  A\'e  ate  and  slei)t  and 
played  and  worked  together.  'We  attended  school  and 
walked  to  the  house  of  God  in  company.  We  breathed 
each  other's  atmosphere  and  lived  in  each  other's  love 
and  confidence. 

"  He  was  my  early  defender,  superior  in  age  and  mus- 
cular strength,  in  courage  and  force  of  will ;  whatever 
assaults  might  come  to  me  from  rude  playmates  or 
school  companions  he  took  it  upon  himself  promptly  to 
repel.  Indeed,  he  was  born  to  rule — modes'.ly,  kindly, 
firmly — and  the  place  thus  assigned   him   by  natural 


48 


Sunset  Memories. 


constitution  and  endowment  was  recognized  instinc- 
tively and  without  challenge  by  all  about  him. 

"' Who  also  were  in  Christ  before  me.'  What  Paul 
thus  wrote  concerning  some  in  his  day  was  reversed  in 
the  present  case.  My  own  conversion  preceded  his  by 
two  or  more  years,  and  doubtless  under  God  helped  to 
accomplish  it.  Occupying  the  same  room  and  bed,  his 
rebellious  nature  would  sometimes  protest  against  the 
praise  and  prayer  which  ever  and  anon  were  too  big  for 
my  young  heart  to  hold,  even  after  retirement.  One 
occasion  is  vividly  remembered  when,  after  returning 
from  a  happy  evening  meeting,  it  was  a  sweet  relief  to 
moisten  my  pillow  with  tears  of  joy  and  make  the  room 
resound  with  ejaculations  of  j^raise;  but  to  him  the  an- 
noyance was  unbearable,  and,  petulantly  rebuking  me  in 
words,  he  suited  the  action  of  his  strong  elbow  to  the 
forceful  utterances  of  his  lips. 

"  Not  long  after,  the  lion  himself  became  a  lamb.  O, 
it  was  a  marked  achievement  of  grace  when  his  strong 
will  and  proud  heart  submitted  to  God!  He  was  sig- 
nally converted,  and  he  carried  the  deep  stamp  of  that 
conversion  to  the  latest  hour  of  his  life.  As  in  the 
Christian  life,  so  in  the  ministry,  he  was  my  junior. 
But  how  soon  may  all  distinction  of  years  become  ob- 
literated by  superior  talent,  self-command,  and  power 
of  execution  !  In  process  of  time  two,  ay,  three,  others 
of  our  number  entered  the  same  ministry,  but  not  to 
challenge  his  place — only  to  imitate  as  best  they  might 
his  devotion  and  prowess.  All  through  the  years,  by 
common  consent,  he  was  our  Elijah. 

"  '  IJehold,  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick.'  Let  me 
then  hasten  to  his  bedside.  O  that  burning  fever,  those 
wasted  energies!  For  weary  months,  even  years,  his 
powerful  will  has  been  battling  against  a  marshaled 
host  of  diseases.    How  fierce  and  unremitting  the  con- 


The  Family. 


49 


test!  Once  and  again  his  devoted  wife  lias  anxiously 
asked,  '  Had  you  not  better  suspend  your  active  labors 
for  needed  rest  and  recuperation  ?  '  to  which  the  charac- 
teristic answer  would  always  come  back,  '  No,  I  can- 
not cease  from  my  work  until  compelled  to  do  so.'  Ah 
me,  the  time  has  come !  That  all-consuming  fever  for 
tliree  long  weeks  has  been  preying  upon  his  vitals.  Yet 
his  mind  is  clear  and  his  courage  unabated. 

"  This  sick  chamber  is  holy  ground.  The  strong  man 
has  bowed  himself,  or  rather  has  been  bowed  by  an- 
other. Alas,  my  brother!  Sacred  is  the  circle  gathered 
here — the  wife,  five  sons,  the  only  daughter,  the  next 
older  sister,  and  the  next  younger  brother.  Tread 
softly  !  Will  he  recognize  me  ?  Approach  and  ask.  '  Do 
you  know  me.''  '  Why,  yes ;  it  is  Nicholas — kiss  me.' 
My  loving  brother  !  An  interval  follows.  '  You  are  trust- 
ing in  Jesus?'  '  My  trust  is  in  the  living  God.'  Another 
interval.  '  Your  trust  is  still  in  Ood  ?'  '  I  am  trusting 
in  Christ.'  Blessed  testimony  !  It  is  enough.  But  must 
he  die  ?  Has  the  Master  no  more  work  for  him  on  earth  ? 
O  what  pleadings  of  soul  with  God  for  his  recovery  ! 
Will  he  not  honor  these  many  and  urgent  petitions.' 

"  The  Sabbath  evening's  sun  has  just  calmly  set,  and 
his  sun  of  life  seems  fast  following.  Ah  !  we  must  yield 
him  up — yet,  dear  Father,  how  can  it  be  Is  he  gone  ? 
Not  a  muscle  stirs;  not  a  sound  is  heard.  So  gently 
has  the  spirit  passed  away,  the  moment  cannot  be  de- 
termined. All  is  over,  and  the  hands  on  the  dial  mark 
eight  o'clock.  Our  Elijah  has  been  translated.  'I  pray 
thee,  let  a  double  portion  of  thy  spirit  be  upon  me.'  In 
my  deep  meditation,  forgetting  there  are  others  to  need 
and  to  covet  this  spirit,  there  comes  to  me  a  deej)  and 
almost  overwhelming  sense  of  added  responsibility,  as 
though  I  were  now  charged  with  the  double  work  of  my 
ascended  brother  and  my  own.     May  I  not  take  up  his 


50 


Sunset  Memories. 


fallen  mantle  and  with  it  smite  many  a  turbulent  Jordan 
to  a  parting  of  the  waters  hither  and  thither?  'Who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ? '  '  Our  sufficiency  is  of  God.' 
My  heart  is  sad.  To  human  short-sightedness  it  seems 
as  if  he  ought  not  yet  to  have  died,  as  if  he  were  more 
needed  on  earth  than  in  heaven.  '  lie  still,  and  know 
that  I  am  God.'  '  Speak,  Lord  ;  for  thy  servant  hear- 
etli.'  Ivirewell,  pure  spirit,  till  we  meet  in  the  glory- 
land!  Dear,  slec])ing  form,  sleep  on  and  take  thy  rest 
till  tlie  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  shall  rend  the  tomb  that 
bears  the  loved  name  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Vansant,  and 
he  shall  write  upon  thy  ransomed  brow  in  lines  immortal 
liis  own  '  new  name.'  " 

Now  comes  tlie  sad  office  of  adding  the  record  of  my 
sister-in-law's  death  on  March  ii,  1895.  Her  venerable 
father,  after  ninety-two  )'ears  of  life,  had  recently  passed 
away,  and  her  mother,  alike  venerable  in  age  and  char- 
acter, had  become  disabled  by  a  serious  accident.  To 
that  afflicted  mother  how  welcome  were  the  tender  min- 
istries of  the  daughter,  and  how  lovingly  were  they  be- 
stowed! But  in  the  midst  of  them  the  daughter  her- 
self became  a  sadden  victim  to  pneumonia  and  died. 
The  painful  shock  of  that  death  was  felt  very  widely. 
Her  precious  form  was  borne  back  from  the  homestead 
in  Philadeljjhia  to  Tom's  River,  N.  J.,  where  it  was  ten- 
derly laid  beside  those  of  her  cherished  husband  and 
daughter.  AVith  her  own  children,  as  sincere  mourners 
in  this  bereavement,  was  num!)ercil  her  brotlier,  the 
Hon.  J.  L.  Hays,  of  Newark,  with  many  other  kindred 
ami  fiiends  who  loved  her  as  one  eminently  lovable. 

Nicholas. — The  seventh  child,  but  not  the  seventh 
son.  Alackaday!  Had  the  latter  been  tiaie  there  is  no 
telling  what  influence  the  old  seventh  son  legend  might 
have  had  ujjon  me,  or  \\  hat  great  wonders  in  the  healing 


The  Family. 


51 


art  and  otiierwisc  nii^ht  have  rendered  my  name  notori- 
ous lony  (.  le  lliis.  ( )!"  m\'  Christian  name  I  liave  never 
been  an  ardent  admirer,  inil  have  never  rebelled  against  it, 
since  that  would  have  been  useless;  rather  has  there  been 
a  quiet  submission  to  it  from  its  exact  correspondence 
with  the  name  of  my  revered  father.  \\'as  this  i)articu- 
lar  name  gi\  en  me  in  infancy  because  I  w  as,  or  w  as  likely 
to  be,  a  favorite  child?  I  trow  not;  yet  I  am  free  to 
confess  that  I  have  never  foimd  occasion  to  complain  of 
any  invidious  distinctions  against  me  in  our  family  life. 
These  few  pleasant  iotlings,  suggested  by  the  number 
and  the  name,  aie  but  i)reliminary  to  a  fuller  narration 
in  a  future  i  hajjler. 

Nathaniki,  1). — The  tallest,  though  not  the  heaviest, 
of  our  number.  For  many  \  ears  he  has  had  "  a  local 
habitation  and  a  name  "  at  Lower  liank,  N.  J.,  where 
his  quiet,  but  commanding,  influence  tor  good  is  felt  in 
all  tlie  community.  Poitums  of  his  boxhood  were  at- 
tended by  frailty  and  sickness;  but,  ox'ercorning  this 
condition  through  a  merciful  Prox'idence,  he  reacdied  a 
healthful  manhood,  giving  himself  to  study  and  to  work  in 
preparaticHi  for  his  future,  whatever  it  might  prove  to  be. 
l''or  a  time  his  occupation  was  that  of  a  school-teacher, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  the  jniblic  with  acceptance 
and  usefulness. 

While  yet  a  young  man  he  was  licensed  as  a  local 
jjreacher,  and  some  years  after  receivetl  orclination  as  a 
deacon.  Though  he  never  (jffered  himself  to  the  Annual 
("onference,  he  was  repeatedl}'  eMq)loyed  by  jiresiding 
elders  t(j  serve  in  the  i)astoral  work,  whicli  he  alwavs 
did  with  good  success.  More  than  tu'enty-live  yea.rs  ago 
he  became  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  |)ublic  office, 
as  also  others,  he  has  been  ser\-ing  the  comniunit\'  with 
strictest  integiity  and  great  usefulness  to  the  present. 
His  habitual  endeavor  has  been  by  wise  counsel  and  ear- 


52 


Sunset  Memories. 


nest  entreaty  to  secure  a  settlement  between  contend- 
ing parties  witliout  a  trial,  and  very  often  he  has  happily 
succeeded.  Nor  is  the  fact  unworthy  of  note  that 
no  one  of  his  legal  decisions  has  ever  been  set  aside 
in  any  essential  particular  under  appeal  to  a  superior 
court. 

It  is  now  a  long  time  since  he  sought  and  found  a  wife, 
thereby  finding  "a  good  tiling  "  and  obtaining  "  favor 
of  the  liOrd."  A  precious  babe  was  born  to  brighten 
and  cheer  their  home;  but,  as  if  in  eager  haste  to  satisfy 
the  ever-greedy  grave,  the  dark  death  angel  followed  in 
but  a  few  short  weeks,  turning  the  brightness  of  that 
home  to  gloom,  its  gladness  to  grief.  But  a  far  deeper 
sorrow  awaited  the  husband  and  father  in  the  sickness 
and  death  of  the  wife  and  mother.  Several  years,  indeed, 
of  domestic  bliss  intervened  before  that  deeper  sorrow 
came,  but  this  seemed  only  to  intensify  its  bitterness 
when  the  dreaded  time,  foreshadowed  by  months  of  fail- 
ing health,  at  last  arrived.  Ah,  sad  beyond  measure 
was  the  day  on  which  the  open  grave  received  all  that 
was  mortal  of  his  beloved  Sarah  ;  and,  though  long 
years  have  since 'passed  away,  his  tender  marital  love 
has  never  ceased  to  center  upon  that  sacredest  of  all 
sacred  spots,  the  grave  of  his  supreme  eartlily  treasure. 
Over  that  honored  grave  and  the  smaller  one  that  nes- 
tles beside  it  how  often  does  the  cpiiet  eventide  wit- 
ness some  fresh  libation  of  tears  from  the  eyes  so  wont 
to  weep — not  indeed  tears  of  murmuring  or  repin- 
ing, but  of  tender,  affectionate  remembrance.  "  Jesus 
wept." 

Happily,  the  burden  of  his  oppressive  loneliness  be- 
came lightened  by  the  timely  offices  of  a  careful,  j^ains- 
taking  nie(  e,  Mrs.  I-ouisa  Crane,  who,  in  the  strange 
orderings  of  I'rox  idence,  iiad  become  so  situated  that  slie 
could  enter  that  bereft  home  and  take  ciiarge  of  its  do- 


The  Family. 


53 


mestic  affairs.  Here  numerous  kindred  and  other  friends 
find  a  cordial  welcome  and  generous  entertainment; 
and  here  the  thoughts  of  an  adopted  son,  William 
Cramer,  very  often  cluster  in  a  fond  remembrance  of  his 
childhood  joys. 

^[ary  Ann. — The  younger  of  the  two  sisters  by  eight 
or  nine  years,  taller  and  more  slender.  It  is  no  vain 
conceit  which  ])rom})ts  the  statement  that  in  girlhood  she 
was  handsome  and  amial)le.  She  early  became  the  wife 
of  Captain  Ricliard  Cramer,  whose  kindness  during  all 
the  passing  }  cars  has  been  ecpialed  only  by  her  ow  n  un- 
faltering devotion.  Tlieir  Christian  home  has  been  the 
scene  of  many  a  joy  and  many  a  sorrow,  but  amid  all  it 
has  ever  been  marked  by  an  absence  of  all  undue  elation 
or  undue  depression. 

The  captain  was  a  widower  with  a  young  son,  who  in 
the  new  home  grew  up  to  a  noble  manhood  and  has 
shown  a  respect  and  affection  toward  his  parents  which 
are  worthy  of  all  praise.  In  course  of  time  there  came 
to  be  added  two  other  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  of 
whom  have  been  spared,  save  one  of  the  latter,  who 
several  years  since  was  called  away  in  the  bloom  and 
beauty  of  a  promising  giilhood.  Some  of  those  who 
remain  are  notable  for  personal  comeliness,  and  all  of 
them  in  these  later  years  are  proving  a  great  comfort  to 
the  rapidly  aging  parents. 

Isaac  N. — The  youngest  and  heaviest  of  the  family 
group,  striking  hands  at  times  with  two  hundred  and 
thirty  avoirdupois.  He  was  converted  early,  married 
early,  and  entered  the  ministry  early,  but  not,  in  the  last 
case,  until  he  had  successfully  pursued  his  trade  by 
building  several  superb  vessels  of  larger  size. 

The  number  of  his  children  reached  half  a  score,  of 
whom  one  died  when  very  young,  leaving  i^ix  sons  and 
three  daughters  to  grow  up  and  enter  married  life. 


54 


Sunset  Memories. 


Several  of  these,  with  the  father,  are  noted  for  their 
superior  musical  talent.  One  of  the  sons,  having  gradu- 
ated at  Drew  Seminary,  entered  the  New  Jersey  Confer- 
ence, but  not  long  after,  through  impaired  health,  was 
obliged  to  relinquish  liis  charge.  Rest  for  a  while 
brought  with  it  recuperation  and  an  earnest  desire  to 
resume  the  pastoral  work,  which  was  done  after  a  trans- 
fer to  the  Troy  Conference,  the  territory  and  climate  of 
which,  it  was  hoped,  ^\•ouId  be  promoti\e  of  permanent 
good  health.  Here  he  entered  with  zest  upon  the  work 
of  a  new  charge,  accomjianied  by  a  young  bride  adajjted 
in  every  way  to  become  a  true  lieli)meet;  nor  did  their 
diligent  efforts  fail  of  a  true  success,  amid  whicli  he  was 
overtaken  by  a  dangerous,  and  what  was  feared  would 
prove  a  fatal,  illness,  compelling  him  again  to  abandon 
his  favorite  work.  I^ong  and  regretfully  will  the  peo- 
ple of  his  late  charge  cherish  the  name  of  the  Rev.  C. 
Frank  Vansant  and  that  of  his  excellent  wife. 

Brother  Isaac's  soul  is  as  large  as  his  bod}',  enabling 
him,  through  sanctifying  grace,  to  preach  strong,  impres- 
sive sermons  and  to  achieve  far  more  than  average  suc- 
cess, his  great  emotional, sympathetic  nature  contribu'.ing 
not  a  little  to  this  result.  His  natural  humor  gives  him 
great  favor  and  iiojndarity  in  social  life,  but  is  never 
allowed  to  detract  from  the  true  dignity  of  the  pLdi)it. 
Ready  wit  and  entertaining  anecdote  are  wont  to  give 
s]iecial  interest  to  occasional  meetings  between  himself 
and  brother  James,  jjrovidcd  the  circumstances  are  such 
as  admit  of  innocent  fun. 

He  of  whom  I  write,  though  the  latest  born  of  our 
number,  is  now  no  longer  young,  the  sixly-fifth  mile- 
stone of  his  life  having  been  reached  and  jiassed;  yet  in 
appearance,  and  largely  so  in  fact,  he  is  still  vigorous 
and  able  to  ]>ursue  with  iniabated  activity  his  ac- 
customed vocation.     It  is  fitting  that  he  and  his  faith- 


The  Family. 


55 


fill  wife,  after  the  cares  and  toils  of  rearing  a  large 
family,  should  now  enjoy  the  quiet  of  a  pleasant  par- 
sonage home,  amid  the  happy  associations  of  a  loved 
and  loving  people. 

Conclusion. 

These  sketches,  though  for  the  most  part  very  brief, 
are  sufficiently  extended  for  the  purpose  designed.  To 
have  made  them  exhaustive  several  volumes  would  have 
been  required,  instead  of  one.  They  are  intended  to 
magnify  the  grace  of  God  as  illustrated  in  the  history 
of  a  plain,  practical,  honest,  and  earnest  family.  In 
closing  this  chapter  nothing  needs  to  be  added  but 
the  emphatic  public  recognition  of  this  family  by  one, 
among  others,  whose  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  writer 
has  acquired  a  national  reputation.  The  report  of  such 
recognition  was  published  in  the  Ocean  Grove  Record  o{ 
August  8,  1885.    It  ojjened  thus; 

"  One  of  the  most  thoughtful  and  suggestive  lectures 
of  the  series  delivered  at  the  recent  .Sunday  School  As- 
sembly was  that  by  General  James  F.  Rusling,  of  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.,  on  Friday  afternoon,  July  31.  His  subject 
was  'The  Relation  of  the  Sunday  School  to  the  State.'" 

Tiien  followed  a  strong,  convincing  argument  in  il- 
lustration of  this  theme,  in  the  course  of  which  he  said: 

"We  can  only  save  the  State  by  capturing  its  chil- 
dren, who  are  to  become  its  future  citizens,  and  drilling 
and  disciplining  them  for  Jesus;  and  how  can  we  do 
this  so  well  as  in  and  by  and  tlirough  our  Sunday 
scliools?  .  .  .  Put  the  children  of  .Xmerica  well  through 
our  pid)lic  scliools,  conii)ulsorily  if  need  be,  and  then 
through  our  Sunday  schools,  and  I  will  answer  for  the 
future  of  the  Rejiublic.  Neglect  the  children,  and  the 
logical  result  i^  '  Margaret,  the  mother  of  criminals  and 
paupers.'    Educate  and  care  for  them,  and  the  result 


56 


Sunset  Memories. 


will  be  Vincent  and  Vansant,  ('.rant  and  Garfield,  sa- 
viours and  defenders  of  the  State." 

The  speaker  was  in  no  way  related  to  our  family,  and 
had  a  personal  ac(iuaintance  with  only  two  or  three 
members  of  it;  but  he  could  speak  as  he  did  on  the 
ground  of  a  general  and  well-established  reputation. 
The  putting  of  our  family  name  in  such  good  company 
was  as  honest  and  impartial  on  his  ])art  as  it  was  un- 
sought by  us. 


PART  II. 

PERSONAL  LIFE  AND  MINISTRY. 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  59 


CHAPTER  I. 
A  Notable  Birthplace— Almost. 

IN  speaking  facetiously  I  ho|)e  not  to  be  misunder- 
stood when  I  say  that,  like  many  great  men  and 
many  more  not  great,  I  was  born  in  a  })lain  country 
home,  which  years  ago  gave  way  to  another  and  better 
structure,  no  one  ever  dreaming,  apparently,  that  it 
ought  to  be  preserved  in  primitive  condition  for  the 
sake  of  those  who  delight  in  making  pilgrimages  to  tlie 
birthplaces  of  distinguished  preachers,  poets,  liistorians, 
statesmen,  and  jiresidents.  Yet,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
many  thousands  of  eager  sight-seers  do  pass  year  by 
year  within  a  few  yards  of  the  spot  where  I  fust  saw 
the  light,  December  7,  1823,  in  the  modest  village  of 
Absecon,  N.  J.,  a  place  now  rendered  notable  by  its 
proximity  to  that  far  more  notable  seaside  resort,  Atlantic 
City,  which  at  the  time  of  my  humble  advent  was  no 
city  at  all,  only  a  bleak,  uninhabited  strand.  I  dare 
not  indulge  the  vain  conceit,  much  less  affirm,  that 
years  afterward  this  renowned  city  was  founded  and 
grew  into  fame  for  the  purpose  of  securing  attention, 
however  casual,  to  the  scene  of  my  nativity  and  early 
babyhood. 

But  enough  of  this.  In  plain  prose,  Absecon  is  a 
very  respectable  village  and  has  been  from  the  begin- 
ning of  tlie  century.  Barber's  Historical  Colicc/ioiis  of 
New  Jersey,  first  published  in  1844,  contains  these 
notices  of  it:  "  From  this  place  [Somers  Point]  along 
the  shore  to  Absecombe  there  is  an  almost  continuous 
line  of  houses."  "Absecombe,  in  the  southeast  corner 
[of  Galloway  township],  thirteen  miles  from  May's  Land- 


60 


Sunset  Memories. 


ing,  contains  about  thirty  iiouses."  I.ippincott's  Gazet- 
teer (1S55)  describes  it  thus:  "Absecuni  (written  also 
Absecombe,  Absecom,  and  Aijsecon),  a  i)ost-\ illage  of 
Atlantic  County,  N.  J.,  on  a  creek  of  the  same  name, 
ninety-five  miles  south  of  Trenton,  and  two  miles  above 
Aljsecuni  liay.  It  is  connected  with  Camden  by  the 
Camden  and  Atlantic  Railroad."  This  perplexing  med- 
ley of  names  for  the  one  ])lace,  or  rather  of  modes  in 
spelling  the  one  name,  seems  at  length  to  have  given 
way  to  the  shortest  and  simjilest  mode,  Absecon,  which 
has  come  to  be  recognized  in  common  parlance,  in 
railroad  time-tables,  in  the  Conference  Minutes,  and 
in  legal  documents  as  embodying  the  true  orthog- 
raphy. 

My  earliest  recollections  of  this  an(  ient  town  stand 
associated  with  the  old-fashioned  (]uarterl)'  meeting  oc- 
casions of  bojhood  days,  ^\'hen  two  years  old  I  had 
been  taken  by  my  parents  to  their  new  home  at  Port 
Republic,  se\en  miles  northward;  but  we  still  remained 
within  the  bouiids  of  the  old  ISargaintown  Circuit,  of 
which  Absecon  was  one  of  the  chief  appointments. 
Here,  in  its  regular  turn,  the  cpiarterly  meeting  would 
be  held,  and  we  would  always  be  in  attendance  on  both 
Saturday  and  .Sunday,  ^\■ry  vivid  is  my  vision  of  the 
plain,  substantial  brick  church,  with  its  hard  open-back 
seats,  lofty  galleries,  and  high  i)ulpit.  The  .Sunday  morn- 
ing love  feast  called  forth  the  best  devotions  of  the  best 
people.  Those  were  the  days  of  admittance  only  to  the 
saints;  the  days,  too,  of  lusty  singing,  of  luirning  testi- 
monies, of  hearty  aniens,  and  loud  hallelujahs.  Here 
were  the  Corderys,  the  Doughtys,  the  Blackmans,  the 
Tiltons,  the  Frambeses,  with  "blind  Mary  Collins,"  and 
many  others  from  various  parts  of  the  large  circuit. 
Then  would  come  the  ])reaching  by  the  j^residing  elder 
to  a  thronging  congregation,  preaching  not  always  great. 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


61 


indeed,  but  always  s])iritual,  practical,  and  telling.  The 
impression  left  by  those  early  scenes  upon  one  young, 
tender  heart,  at  least,  has  been  abiding  and  has  been 
handed  down  to  old  age  as  a  legacy  of  untold  worth. 
For  the  present,  dear  birthplace,  good-bye  ! 
5 


62 


Sunset  Memories. 


Chapter  ii. 

Some  Incidents  of  Boyhood. 


Y  boyliood  in  most  respects  was  like  that  of  most 


'  ^  *  otlier  boys,  with  its  eating  and  drinking  and 
sleeping,  its  langhing  and  crying,  playing  and  working, 
hopes  and  disappointments,  school  attendance  and  dis- 
eases of  childliood,  etc.  ]!nt  my  memory  recalls  some 
startling  or  otherwise  noteworthy  incidents. 


When  a  lad  of  seven  or  eight  years,  being  witli  other 
and  older  boys  at  play,  tliey  started  to  run  away  from 
me,  and  I  in  running  after  them,  witii  a  iialf-opened 
pocketknife  in  my  hand,  stumbled  and  fell  upon  its 
pointed  blade,  which,  cutting  through  my  clothes,  made 
an  ugly  incision  in  the  flesh  covering  the  diaphragm, 
the  scar  of  which  is  carried  to  this  day.  Had  that 
blade  penetrated  a  vital  organ,  it  is  easy  to  see  how 
serious  might  have  been  the  result. 

When  somewhat  older,  several  boys,  of  whom  I  was 
one,  were  engaged  in  jilaying  "  sky-ball,"  as  it  was 
familiarly  called,  in  front  of  Levi  1).  Howard's  black- 
smith shop,  whenc  e  his  attention  was  turned  to  us.  A 
large,  athletic  man  of  kindly  disposition,  he  came  from 
his  shop,  with  heavy  sledge  hammer  in  hand,  to  aid  us 
in  our  sport.  With  a  ball  adjusted  upon  the  lower  end 
of  a  lever  made  of  green  oak,  we  went  out  and  stood 
around,  with  upturned  faces  and  double  hands  extended 
to  catch  the  descending  ball,  when  with  his  strong, 
muscular  arms  he  struck  the  projecting  end  of  the  lever 
and  sent  the  ball  whizzing  in  upper  air.    Alas  for  me! 


Protfx'tion  and  Escape. 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  63 


Instead  of  the  ball  there  came  the  flying  lever  and 
struck  the  center  of  my  forehead,  as  tliough  directed  by 
a  deadly  aim.  I  fell  to  the  ground,  with  the  blood 
gushing  forth  as  if  from  a  fatal  wound  in  battle.  That 
the  heavy  missile  did  not  crash  through  the  skull  and 
dash  out  my  young  life  has  been  cause  for  continual 
wonder,  mingled  with  devout  gratitude  to  God  for  his 
protecting  care.  I  was  taken  to  the  blacksmith's  home 
next  door,  where  his  good  wife  tenderly  dressed  the 
wound  and  cared  for  me  till  I  was  able  to  go  home, 
about  half  a  mile  distant.  Though  no  serious  results 
followed  this  accident,  the  scar  which  it  left  has  never 
ceased  to  stare  me  in  the  face  day  by  day.  It  may  be 
added  that,  some  years  afterward,  Mrs.  Howard,  who 
w^as  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Jonas  Miller,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  ])lace,  was  left  a  widow,  and  subse- 
quently became  the  wife  of  a  New  Jersey  Conference 
minister,  the  Rev.  William  A.  lirooks. 

Another  sudden  peril  and  hairbreadth  esca[)e  came  to 
me  not  far  from  the  same  time  and  place.  The  old  mill 
race  of  Mr.  Nehemiah  Blackman,  a  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial citizen,  was  used  by  the  )  Oung  men  and  l)oys  of  the 
neighborhood  as  a  favorite  resort  for  bathing  and  swim- 
ming. With  others,  I  was  one  day  there  enjoying  the 
accustomed  sport  and  trying  withal  to  learn  the  swim- 
ming art,  when  suddenly  I  stepped  from  the  shallow 
water  into  a  deep  hole  and  soon  found  myself  struggling 
in  vain  to  keep  afloat.  Sinking  and  rising,  then  sinking 
and  rising  again,  I  was  about  to  sink  for  the  third  and 
last  time  when  my  brother  James,  who  was  a  short 
distance  aw^ay,  rushed  to  my  rescue.  Not  long  after- 
ward the  old  mill  was  torn  down,  and  a  new  and  larger 
one  was  about  to  be  built  in  its  stead.  When  the  day 
came  for  raising  the  new  frame  the  neighbors  gathered 
from  near  and  far,  it  being  understood  that  so  large  a 


64 


Sunset  Memories. 


building  would  require  many  hands  to  rear  its  frame,  and 
that,  moreover,  a  bountiful  dinner  would  be  served  to  all 
who  should  render  help.  I  could  lift  a  few  pounds.  Why, 
therefore,  might  I  not  go  ?  So  I  reasoned,  and  under  the 
reasoning  answered  my  own  question  by  going.  Was 
the  service  I  rendered  a  thank  offering  to  the  Lord  for 
my  late  deliverance  from  drowning  at  that  familiar  spot.' 
This  would  have  been  eminently  appropriate.  But  as  I 
now  look  back  I  fear  that  thoughts  of  the  sumptuous 
dinner  had  far  more  to  do  with  my  going  than  any  other 
consideration. 

Somewhat  later  I  unwittingly  ventured  into  a  most 
perilous  position,  though  but  little  given  in  general 
to  adventurous  feats.  Father  had  built  and  launched 
a  schooner  of  large  size,  which  lay  afloat  in  the  stream 
while  being  rigged.  Her  masts  and  shrouds,  but 
not  her  topmasts,  had  been  put  in  ])lnce.  Ascending 
by  the  shrouds  to  the  foremasthead,  I  climbed  from 
the  crosstrees  to  the  extreme  top  of  the  mast,  and, 
raising  myself  up,  stood  erect  for  two  or  more  minutes 
surveying  the  landscape  before  me,  with  no  support 
save  that  beneath  my  feet ;  then,  carefully  letting  my- 
self down  to  the  crosstrees,  I  thence  descended  by  the 
shrouds  to  the  deck.  Well  for  me,  all  this  occurred 
without  the  notice  or  knowledge  of  the  men  engaged 
in  their  work  on  deck,  for  a  word  spoken  to  me  in 
my  dangerous  position  would  have  been  likely  to  pro- 
duce distraction  and  giddiness,  resulting  in  a  fatal  fall 
to  the  deck.  I  can  never  look  back  upon  that  boyish 
adventure  without  a  deep  shudder,  or  without  a  feeling 
that  the  unseen  Hand  divine  was  upon  me  for  good, 
steadying  nerves  and  brain,  and  thereby  averting  a  fatal 
result.  While  far  from  regarding  myself  as  a  child  or  a 
man  of  "destiny,"  I  love  to  think  of  myself,  in  both  child- 
hood and  manhood,  as  a  favored  subject  of  God's  lov- 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


65 


ing  providence  in  common  with  multitudes  of  other 
praying  and  trusting  ones. 

"  In  all  my  ways  Thy  hand  I  own, 
Thy  ruling  providence  I  see." 

A  Solitary  Combat. 

Very  plainly  I  was  not  intended  by  either  nature  or 
education  for  a  pugilist,  a  single  fistic  encounter  in  boy- 
hood being  the  only  one  of  which  I  have  any  recollec- 
tion. My  antagonist  was  Richard  Endicott,  a  boy 
somewhat  older  and  larger  than  myself,  a  son  of  our 
nearest  neighbor,  Captain  \\'illiam  Endicott.  Just  what 
the  ground  of  dispute  between  us  was  I  have  long  since 
forgotten  ;  but  the  fact  of  our  encounter  has  always 
been  kept  in  lively  remembrance,  more,  however,  as  a 
regret  than  a  pleasure. 

We  fought  by  no  fixed  or  studied  rules,  for  at  that  time 
the  code  of  pugilistic  warfare  had  not  attained  either  its 
present  perfection  or  publicity  and  was  wholly  unknown 
to  us  ;  yet  we  fought  vigorously,  each  striving  to  outdo 
the  other.  Enough  to  say  that  the  contest  was  soon 
over,  with  no  spilt  blood,  no  blackened  eyes,  no  swollen, 
distorted  features,  no  broken  knuckles,  and  no  wild  re- 
joicings over  a  fallen  foe  or  a  defeated  rival,  each  being 
satisfied  to  call  it  a  drawn  battle  ;  nor  was  the  renewal 
of  our  mutual  friendship  long  delayed.  Now,  if  boys  must 
indulge  in  fisticuffs  let  me  commend  for  imitation  the 
'  encounter  here  described  as  one  approaching  a  harmless 
model.  Yet  in  this,  as  in  drink  and  many  other  things, 
it  is  far  better  to  practice  total  abstinence  than  give  way 
to  even  the  most  moderate  indulgence. 

A  few  years  after  this  Richard  and  myself  became 
widely  separated  in  our  lines  of  work,  his  involving  the 
exposures  and  perils  of  a  seafaring  life,  and  mine  the 
labors  and  responsibilities  of  the  ministry.    "Lost  at 


66 


Sunset  Memories. 


sea,"  tells  tlie  sequel  of  liis  brief  career.  "  Neverthe- 
less I  live;  yet  not  1,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me,"  tells  the 
story  of  my  own  prolonged  life,  natural  and  spiritual. 

Speaking  of  Rich-ard's  father  reminds  mc  of  this  in- 
cident: One  Sunday  evening,  he  and  his  daughter  Je- 
mima were  at  home  alone,  the  other  members  of  the 
family  being  absent  at  church.  He  was  just  recover- 
ing from  a  serious  illness;  and,  though  not  accustomed 
to  read  the  liible  himself,  he  became  very  much  inter- 
ested that  evening  in  listening  to  the  reading  of  it  by 
his  daughter.  The  effect  was  soon  told  by  himself;  for 
the  meeting  having  closed,  he  hastily  sent  for  my  father, 
who  on  entering  the  captain's  home  found  him  in  great 
distress  of  mind  under  conviction  for  sin.  With  trem- 
bling emotion  he  said,  "  As  I  was  sitting  here  and  my 
daughter  was  reading  the  Bible  to  me  I  felt  that  God 
came  out  of  the  Bible  and  came  right  to  my  heart  [suit- 
ing the  action  to  the  word],  and  I  want  you  to  pray  for 
me."  That  was  a  welcome  op|)ort unity  to  my  father  to 
jiray  by  special  recpiest  for  one  of  his  awakened  neigh- 
bors and  ])oint  out  to  him  the  only  way  of  salvation;  nor 
was  the  impressive  lesson  of  that  exciting  occasion  lost 
upon  that  neighbor  or  his  family. 

Early  School  Davs. 
The  old  neighborhood  sclioolhouse,  with  its  ten-plate 
stove,  unbacked  benches,  and  long,  rude  writing  desk 
extending  across  one  end,  is  still  vividly  remembered. 
Standing  aloof  from  human  residences  and  from  field  or 
lot  inclosures,  it  afforded  ample  playgrounds  shaded  by 
the  natural  bushes  and  trees  surrounding  it.  Was  it 
(|uite  behind  the  age.?  Yes,  behind  tliis  age,  not  that. 
Tiiink  of  the  clianges  in  school  buildings,  school  con- 
veniences, and  school  management  whirli  sixty  and  more 
years  have  wrought  !    Yet  then  and  there  earnest,  sub- 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


67 


stantial,  even  magnificent  work  was  done  l)y  botli  teach- 
ers and  scholars.  It  was  not  a  graded  school.  There 
was  but  one  room.  But  grades  as  to  ages  and  progress 
in  studies  were  recognized  and  classified  as  best  they 
could  be.  Many  a  solid  foundation  was  there  laid  for 
future  scholarship,  which  has  since  been  wielding  its 
good  influence  over  not  a  few  receptive  homes. 

At  least  three  of  the  teachers  of  those  days  require 
special  mention.  One  was  James  B.  Lane,  a  man  small 
of  stature,  but  not  small  in  Christian  culture  and  useful- 
ness. He  was  especially  active  in  tlie  temperance  reform 
and  the  antislavery  movement,  each  of  them  but  newly 
introduced  in  the  community.  On  me  fell  the  honor — 
honor,  as  I  now  view  it — of  bearing  from  him  to  our 
home  the  first  printed  antislavery  matter  that  invaded 
the  neighl)orhood.  I  say  invaded,  for  such  literature 
was  then  and  there  decidedly  unpopular,  even  my  own 
father,  who  was  wont  to  be  in  sympathy  with  all  good 
things,  treating  it  at  first  very  shyly;  but  more  liglit  and 
further  thought  soon  led  him  into  full  line  with  all  true 
opposers  of  slavery,  as  of  intemperance  and  the  liquor 
traffic.  Mr.  Lane  was  the  honored  father  of  him  who 
became  the  worthy  husband  of  our  elder  sister,  as  set 
forth  in  a  previous  chapter. 

Another  teacher  to  be  noticed  was  a  man  of  one  arm, 
but  otherwise  possessing  a  well-proportioned  and  manly 
physicjue.  His  dexterous  use  of  the  jien  and  of  the  rod 
with  that  one  hand  was  found  to  be  very  lielpful  as  to  the 
former,  but  keenly  hurtful  as  to  the  latlt  r.  A  well-re- 
membered and  useful  teacher  was  "one-armed  ClilTord," 
as  he  was  often  called. 

Still  another  was  John  Clements,  a  sturdy  Quaker. 
His  qualifications  were  understood  to  be  of  a  high  order, 
and  under  his  instrut  tions  the  pupils  made  good  prog- 
ress in  their  studies.     l>ut  though  he  belonged  to  the 


68 


Sunset  Memories. 


Society  of  Friends,  he  was  far  from  being  a  noncombat- 
ant,  as  ins  unmerciful  use  of  the  bircli,  or  rather  the 
hickory,  too  often  proved.  Tlie  terrible  flagellation 
which  he  once  adniiiiistered  to  a  boy  in  the  school  was 
such  as  to  remind  one  of  the  Psalmist's  sad  recital, 
"The  plowers  ])lowed  upon  my  back  ;  they  made  long 
tlieir  furrows.  '  The  lad  quickly  reported  to  his  parents, 
who  lived  near  by,  and  they  in  turn  as  quickly  visited 
the  teacher,  bringing  the  boy  with  tliem.  Laying  bare 
his  corrugated  back,  they  confronted  iiis  cruel  lictor  with 
the  awful  ridges  and  furrows  which  his  hand  liad  in- 
flicted. To  my  young  eyes  and  those  of  the  other  schol- 
ars the  sight  was  appalling,  while  it  called  forth  the  most 
vigorous  imprecations  and  threats  from  the  excited  fam- 
ily and  neighbors  who  gathered  to  witness  the  tragic 
scene.  Who  was  that  boy.'  His  name  was  John;  but 
he  was  certainly  not  the  beloved  disciple  in  the  esteem 
of  John  the  teacher.  He  was  probably,  however,  not 
worse  than  the  average  boy;  and,  having  grown  to 
early  manliood,  he  became  a  Christian  and  churcli 
member,  entered  iq)on  a  successful  business  career,  and 
during  many  years  has  been  known  and  respected  as 
Captain  John  Rose. 

Sunday  Schoot,  Life. 
Between  the  Sunday  school  of  my  childhood  and  that 
of  to-day  the  contrast  is  very  great — much  like  the  dif- 
ference between  an  acorn  sprout  but  a  few  inches  above 
the  surface,  and  a  tall,  spreading  oak  in  the  fullness  of 
a  vigorous  growth.  Then  were  the  days  of  its  tender, 
feeble  babyhood  ;  this  is  the  age  of  its  strong  and  well- 
developed  adulthood.  Then  no  room  or  rooms  pre- 
pared with  manifold  conveniences  and  attractions  of 
sight  and  sound  greeted  the  little  folks,  as  now;  then 
no  uniform  lesson  system  or  multipled  "lesson  helps" 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  69 


and  no  well-trained  normal  teachers  occiii)ied  their  at- 
tention and  ministered  to  their  progress,  as  in  the  pres- 
ent day. 

Yet  even  then  the  Sunday  school  was  far  from  being 
a  useless  appendage  in  church  work.  Among  the  most 
valuable  acquisitions  that  ever  came  to  me  I  reckon 
those  whicli  resulted  from  my  early  Sunday  sciiool 
studies.  My  catechism  lessons,  with  scripture  proofs, 
and  the  additional  memorizing  of  verses  and  chapters, 
have  proved  an  unspeakable  service  during  the  whole 
course  of  my  extended  ministry. 

Our  first  Sunda\'  scliool  room  was  the  old  "  Blackman 
Meetingiiouse,"  witli  its  uncarpeted  floor,  rude  seats, 
])lain  altar,  higli  barrel-shaped  pulpit,  and  lofty  galleries. 
"Can  there  any  good  tiling  come  out  of  Nazareth  ?  .  .  . 
Come  and  see."  Ay,  man\-  w  ere  tlie  good  tilings  which, 
even  in  those  days,  came  out  of  that  plain  old  Nazareth 
of  early  Methodism,  planted  there  some  years  before  by 
its  de\oted  itinerants.  Not  insignificant  among  these 
good  things  were  the  rich  golden  fruits  of  its  Sunday 
school  work. 

My  best  remembered  teacher  as  I  was  approaching 
my  teens  was  Dr.  Gilbert  Hatfield,  who  had  previously 
lived  in  New  York  ( ity.  Inclining  to  a  rural  home,  he 
had  removed  to  our  neighborhood  and  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  at  Gravelly  I,anding,  on  the  south  bank 
of  Nacot  Creek  (River),  nearly  opjjosite  our  own  home. 
The  interest  between  him  and  his  class  soon  became  in- 
tense, and  as  the  time  approached  for  the  usual  winter 
vacation  of  the  school  it  was  mutually  agreed  by  him 
and  them  not  to  suspend  their  meetings  or  studies.  He 
invited  us  to  come  to  his  own  well-furnished  home, 
where  we  continued  to  recite  our  lessons  and  receive 
his  wise  instructions.  Seldom  has  a  class  of  boys  felt 
more  honored  than  we  did  under  this  new  and  ha])py 


70 


Sunset  Memories. 


arrangement;  nor  is  it  too  niucli  to  say  that  our  associa- 
tion with  this  devoted  teacher  formed  no  unimportant 
factor  in  tlie  (juestion  of  our  early  conversion.  Long 
since  he  passed  on^to  his  reward,  but  the  fragrance 
of  his  cherished  memory  still  lingers. 

Our  next  place  of  meeting  was  the  new  brick  church 
erected  on  grounds  donated  by  Uncle  Henry  Adams 
and  lying  but  a  short  distance  from  the  old  location. 
As  the  time  for  its  dedication  drew  near  a  deep  interest 
was  felt  in  the  question  of  securing  the  services  of  some 
distinguished  minister  from  abroad  on  dedication  day. 
All  thoughts  spontaneously  turned  toward  tiie  Rev. 
Charles  Pitman,  the  most  eloquent  of  New  Jersey 
native-born  preachers,  if  not,  indeed,  of  all  the  preach- 
ers then  living  in,  at  least,  the  Middle  States.  Could 
and  would  he  come.'  He  was  stationed  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  the  journey  to  the  place  of  dedication  would 
involve  a  stage  ride  of  some  forty-five  miles;  for  in  those 
days  there  were  no  railroad  lines,  as  now,  between  that 
city  and  the  New  Jersey  coast. 

Great  was  the  disappointment  when  it  was  learned 
that  he  could  not  be  secured.  Application  was  next 
made  to  the  Rev.  Levi  Scott,  afterward  Bishop  Scott, 
and  he  engaged  to  come.  He  was  but  little  known  in 
our  section,  but  our  preacher  in  charge,  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Page,  knew  him  personally  and  spoke  of  him  in 
terms  of  high  commendation,  and  my  boyish  ears  were 
keenly  interested  in  listening  to  his  comparison  between 
the  two  men.  "  Mr.  Scott,"  he  said,  "  is  not  as  eloquent 
as  Mr.  Pitman,  but  is  considered  a  more  able  reasoner." 

The  people  quietly  accepted  the  situation  and  looked 
forward  in  lively  expectation  to  dedication  morning. 
Alas,  the  double  disappointment!  The  hour  of  service, 
instead  of  finding  a  Pitman  or  a  Scott  in  the  ])ul])it, 
found  only  our  own  familiar  pastor,  as  ])lain  in  person 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


71 


and  unadorned  in  speech  as  the  reader  can  well  imagine. 
Many  other  men  would  have  shrunk  appalled  from  the 
delicate  and  difficult  task  of  standing  in  the  place  of 
either  of  those  distinguished  jjreachers  on  such  an  occa- 
sion ;  but  Mr.  Page  was  a  man  of  level  head  and  steady 
nerves,  and  was  thus  well  fitted  by  nature,  as  by  grace, 
to  meet  the  trying  emergency  which  then  and  there 
confronted  him.  Nothing  daunted,  though  deeply  cha- 
grined, he  preached  to  a  large  and  disappointed  congre- 
gation and  dedicated  the  church,  which  thenceforward 
became  our  stated  place  of  worship,  the  basement  serv- 
ing for  the  Sunday  school,  prayer  meetings,  and  class 
meetings. 

This  was  in  1838.  Several  years  afterward  a  third 
church  was  built,  larger  and  in  all  respects  better  than 
either  of  its  predecessors,  occupying  a  commanding  site 
on  what  was  once  a  part  of  father's  shipyard  grounds, 
and  within  easy  speaking  distance  of  the  homestead  in 
which  the  writer  passed  the  period  between  his  infancy 
and  his  call  to  the  itinerant  ministry.  There  stands 
that  church  to-day,  an  ornament  to  tlie  neigliborliood 
and  a  monument  to  the  enterprise  and  liberality,  the 
intelligence  and  piety  of  the  people. 


72 


Sunset  Memories. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Conversion  and  What  Followed. 

I\  A  Y  conversion  in  1S37  was  far  more  a  change  of 
^  '  *■  heart  than  of  life,  of  nature  than  of  deportment. 
Habitually  prayerful  and  tenderly  conscientious  from 
my  earliest  recollection,  I  reached  my  fourteenth  year 
in  practice  of  the  strictest  morality,  fearing  God  and 
working  righteousness.  Yet  in  my  deepest  conscious- 
ness I  knew  that  not  all  was  right  in  my  inward  moral 
condition.  Never,  perhaps,  was  the  veriest  sinner  more 
pungently  convicted  of  sin,  external  correctness  plead- 
ing in  vain  for  justification  at  the  bar  of  awakened  con- 
science. My  heart  seemed  so  sinful  and,  at  times,  so 
hard  and  unfeeling  as  to  drive  me  well  nigh  to  despair. 
My  boy  nature,  considered  by  my  friends  so  good,  was 
constrained  to  give  vent  to  its  anguish  in  the  bitter  cry, 
so  impressively  versified  by  Charles  Wesley: 

"  (uiilty  I  stand  before  tliy  face  ; 
On  me  1  feel  tliy  wralli  abide  ; 
'Tis  just  tlie  sentence  sliovdd  take  place  ; 
'Tis  just— l)ut  C),  thy  Son  hath  died!" 

This  emphatic  "but"  was  key  to  the  one  saving 
clause  to  which  alone  my  troubled  spirit  might  cling; 
and,  clinging  to  it  through  long  and  weary  weeks  of 
seeking,  there  came  at  length  the  dawn  of  a  sweet  re- 
lief. I  say  the  dawn,  for  not  till  after  several  added 
months  had  passed  did  the  full  day  open  in  my  assured 
salvation.  Not  suddenly,  but  gradually  and  gently,  I 
entered  the  eighth  of  Romans  in  which  "  the  spirit  of 
bondage  "  gave  place  to  "  the  Spirit  of  adoption,  where- 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  73 


by  we  cry,  Abba,  Father."  Very  long,  indeed,  was  the 
witnessing  Holy  Spirit  in  coming,  but  far  longer  has  he 
been  in  abiding,  the  "  every  day  and  every  hour  "  of 
more  than  fifty-nine  changing  years  having  been  wit- 
ness to  his  witnessing  and  keeping  [)resence. 

While  i)raying  and  waiting  for  the  clear,  comforting 
assurance  of  my  conversion,  1  had  some  doubts  in  refer- 
ence to  uniting  with  the  Church ;  l)ut,  finally  setting  these 
aside  and  overcoming  my  natural  timidity,  I  went  for- 
ward with  otiiers  for  that  purpose,  and  was  received  by 
the  Rev.  Edward  Page,  already  spoken  of.  In  thinking 
of  that  important  occasion  and  of  liim  I  liavc  often  said 
that,  if  the  i)en  with  wiiich  he  wrote  my  name  upon  tlie 
records  of  the  church  were  in  my  possession,  I  should 
prize  it  as  one  of  m\'  choice  treasures. 

Tlie  circuit  camp  for  the  summer  of  1S37  was  held 
in  Hosca  Joslyn's  grove,  as  mentioned  on  a  previous 
page;  and  to  me  it  proved  the  most  memorable  one  of 
my  life,  for  it  was  there  I  fir.^t  bowed  at  a  "mourner's 
bench"  in  a  tent  on  the  last  night  of  the  meeting.  On 
returning  liome  a  series  of  cottage  prayer  meetings  was 
started  at  the  house  of  "  Uncle  Josy  Kindle,"  as  we  fa- 
miliarly called  him,  wlio,  by  a  common  wish,  became  the 
liermancnt  leader.  He  was  a  plain,  unlettered,  devout  man, 
having  charge  of  Mr.  Blackman's  sawmill  at  the  end  of 
the  dam  running  south  from  his  gristmill.  Here  night 
after  night  my  seeking  continued  with  the  blessed  result 
already  stated. 

Coml:)ined  jiarental  precept  and  e.xamjde  had  much  to 
do  in  bringing  alxuit  my  early  conversion.  We  were 
reared  in  an  atmosphere  of  prayer  and  piety.  "Provoke 
not  your  children  to  wrath:  but  bring  them  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,"  found  daily  honor 
and  exemplification  in  our  Iiome.  Si)ontaneously,  with- 
out pressure  or  strained  effort,  we  were  taught  great  rev- 


74 


Sunset  Memories. 


erence  for  the  Bible,  family  worship,  tlie  Sabbath,  the 
Church,  and  tiie  ministry.  The  visits  to  our  home  of 
the  circuit  preachers,  as  also  of  other  ministers  and 
good  people,  were  always  hailed  with  pleasure  by 
parents  and  children  alike.  With,  such  environments 
and  associations,  why  should  not  the  latter,  while  yet 
in  "life's  dewy  morn,"  have  given  their  hearts  to 
Jesus 

Listening  once  to  a  recital  by  the  Rev.  Charles  R. 
IJarnes  of  a  conversation  between  his  father,  of  Jersey 
City,  N.  J.,  and  a  fellow-member  of  the  same  ciiurch,  I 
was  forcibly  reminded  of  my  own  parents. 

"  How  is  it,  Brother  Barnes,  that  your  children,  on 
reaching  about  a  certain  age,  become  converted  and  unite 
with  the  Cliurcl),  whereas  our  children  in  growing  up 
show  a  dislike  to  religion  and  become  indifferent  to  the 
Church.'  Yet  we  pray  for  tliem  and  habitually  talk  to 
them  on  the  subject,  urging  them  to  become  Christians. 
What  makes  the  difference?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Brother  Barnes,  "except  that  we 
certainly  look  for  the  early  conversion  of  our  children. 
We  expect  it  as  much  as  we  expect  any  other  desired 
and  promised  thing;  so,  living  to  this  end  and  trusting 
in  God,  he  does  not  disappoint  us." 

Similar  to  this  was  the  experience  of  our  revered  par- 
ents; and  later  on  it  became  haiipily  repeated  in  the 
writer's  own  home.  Why  sliould  it  not  be  thus  in  every 
Christian  family.'  "  l''or  the  promise  is  unto  you,  and 
to  your  children." 

Various  Results. 
I.  An  abiding  peace  witli  frequent  overflowing  joy. 
"For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink;  but 
righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 
This  incident  may  sufficiently   illustrate :  Returning 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


75 


home  from  a  meeting  one  night  full  of  joy  and  rejoicing, 
I  went  to  my  room  and  found  Brother  Samuel,  two  years 
my  senior,  but  not  yet  converted,  already  in  bed.  Ac- 
customed to  sleep  together,  I  took  my  place  beside  him 
as  quietly  as  I  could,  but  unable  to  restrain  altogether 
my  rai)turous  emotions.  For  a  while  no  word  was  spoken, 
except  in  my  quiet  ejaculations  of  praise;  but  the  silence 
was  ere  long  broken  by  a  vigorous  thrust  of  his  elbow, 
accompanied  by  an  e(|ually  \  igorous  protest  in  words: 
"I  wish  you'd  get  your  shout  out  before  you  come 
home!"  Not  very  long  after  he  himself  became  a 
liajipy  partaker  of  the  same  joy  in  his  own  blessed  con- 
version. 

2.  A  regular,  devout  attendance  upon  the  means  of 
grace,  public  and  private.  These,  as  intended,  became 
a  true  nourishment  to  my  young  spiritual  life;  nor  have 
they,  even  in  old  age,  lost  aught  of  their  nourishing  vir- 
tue. Secret  prayer  and  class  meetings — far  more  es- 
teemed then  than  now — were  made  specialties.  The 
most  formidable  duty  that  confronted  me  was  observ- 
ance of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Once  only,  through  excessive 
timidity  and  a  feeling  of  utter  iin worthiness,  was  this 
holy  ordinance  omitted,  resulting  in  a  condemnation  of 
spirit  which  could  l)e  relieved  only  by  days  of  deep  hu- 
miliation, special  jirayer,  and  a  solemn  promise  never  to 
repeat  such  neglect.  O,  w  hat  unspeakable  joy  has  come 
to  me  all  through  the  years  in  a  conscientious  observ- 
ance of  that  promise  ! 

3.  Si)ecial  desire  and  effort  for  usefulness.  Having 
myself  been  saved,  I  longed  and  labored  for  the  salva- 
tion of  others,  such  being  the  genius  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion. "And  let  him  that  heareth  [savingly]  say,  Come." 
While  by  reason  of  my  youth  and  lack  of  courage  I 
could  accomplish  but  little,  I  earnestly  sought  to  merit 
through  grace  a  share  in  the  honors  and  rewards  of 


76  Sunset  Memories. 

that  rich  encomium  wlicrein  Jesus  so  tenderly  em- 
balmed the  name  of  Mary:  "She  hath  done  what  she 
could." 

My  fust  attempt  at  vocal  prayer  in  tiie  presence  of 
others  has  always  been  remembered  with  mingled  mor- 
tification and  gratitude.  It  occurred  in  a  vSunday  morn- 
ing prayer  meeting  conducted  by  "Uncle  Josy  "  at  the 
house  of  Josliua  Smith,  nearly  all  in  attendance  being 
new  converts.  After  others  had  ])rayed,  to  my  great 
surjirise  and  discomfort  my  own  name  w  as  called.  A\'hat 
must  I  do?  How  could  I  even  try?  Happily,  I  knew 
nothing  but  to  obey.  It  was  a  very  lame  atlemi)t  from 
beginning  to  end,  but  it  proved  a  very  useful  illustration 
of  what  I  afterward  more  fully  learned,  namely,  that  to 
obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to  hearken  than  the 
fat  of  rams."  The  ice  was  now  broken  for  all  that  fu- 
ture use  of  my  voice  in  ])ra)  er  and  exhortation,  ])ersonal 
persuasion  and  preaching,  which  has  covered  so  many 
busy  years.  AN'ould  that  such  use  had  been  a  thousand- 
fold more  effec-tual  ! 

4.  Increased  de\(ilion  to  study.  My  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge had  always  been  ardent,  but  now  the  desire  for 
mental  culture  along  with  spiritual  improvement  became 
intense.  In  obedience  to  it  a  suitable  desk  with  sta- 
tionery was  provided,  additional  books  were  gathered, 
and  a  free  use  made  of  the  jicn  as  time  would  permit. 
At  that  plain  desk  many  a  composition  bearing  the  im- 
press of  a  youthful  mind  and  hand  was  written,  not  so 
much  for  public  use  as  for  personal  practice  and  dis- 
cipline. Nor  was  that  early  habit  of  diligence  in  study 
ei)hemeral.  ^\'hether  little  or  much  has  come  of  it,  an 
unabated  love  of  study  kept  pace  with  all  the  years  of  a 
long  and  active  ministry,  and  now  in  this  quiet  eventide 
of  life  its  constant  companionship  affords  the  same  sat- 
isfaction and  joy  as  of  old. 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  77 


FuRTHKR  Camp  Meetinc;  Experiences. 

The  camp  meeting  which  marked  my  awakening  was 
followed,  three  years  later,  by  another,  held  not  far  from 
my  birthplace,  Absecon. 

About  two  weeks  before  tlie  time  appointed  for  it,  I 
had  set  out  with  Brother  Joel  on  the  schooner  Isaac 
Enslow  for  a  trip  around  the  capes  to  Philadelphia,  for 
a  cargo  of  Schuylkill  coal.  He  had  recently  built  the 
schooner  and  had  arranged  to  become  her  temporary 
commander,  no  doubt  being  entertained  that  the  pro- 
posed trij)  could  be  made  quite  within  the  two  weeks, 
and  probably  within  ten  days.  The  voyage  was  a  pros- 
perous one  till  the  city  was  reached,  where  the  vessel 
promptly  loaded;  then  the  return  trip  was  hopefully 
entered  upon,  no  one  on  board  seeming  to  remember 
those  cautionary  lines  of  AVatts,  "  We  should  suspect 
some  danger  nigli  where  we  possess  delight."  Tlie 
"danger"  awaiting  us  was  an  old-fashioned  northeaster, 
so  often  the  terror  of  sailors,  which,  meeting  us  on  our 
approach  toward  the  capes,  drove  us  back,  tossing  and 
plunging,  to  find  a  harbor  in  Maurice  River. 

Here  we  were  very  safe,  but  not  altogether  easy,  for 
as  day  after  day  the  wind  continued  unchanged  the  hope 
of  being  able  to  make  a  "run  "  in  time  for  the  meeting 
became  more  and  more  doomed  to  disappointment, 
which  to  my  young  mind,  especially,  involved  a  dire 
calamity.  Was  there  no  way  of  escape  ?  One,  and  only 
one,  was  within  reach,  namely,  a  tramp  of  more  than 
thirty  miles  across  the  country  over  lonely,  toilsome 
roads.  Would  not  this  be  a  great  undertaking  for  a 
timid  boy — traveling  so  far  alone  on  foot,  tlirough  an 
utterly  strange  region.'  Yes,  but  as  the  renowned  Kos- 
suth once  said  on  a  very  notable  occasion,  "There  is  no 
obstacle  to  him  that  wills."  So  I  willed  to  attend  tlun 
catnp  meeting,  and  no  obstacle  within  the  limits  of  rea- 
6 


78 


Sunset  Memories. 


son  and  religion  seemed  formidable  enough  to  baffle  my 
purpose. 

The  time  being  definitely  fixed  for  debarkation,  my 
limited  wardrobe  was  packed,  and,  taking  for  my  motto, 
"  Homeward  bound,"  I  soon  found  my  more  than  willing 
feet  pressing  the  strange  soil  as  I  set  forward  with  quick,' 
elastic  stej>.  I>eesburg  was  near,  and  thence  a  short 
walk  took  me  to  Port  Elizabeth,  where  I  paused  to  learn 
further  about  the  way.  The  next  village  would  be  Ca- 
tawba, lying  some  ten  miles  distant;  but  as  the  sun  was 
fast  declining  I  could  not  hope  to  get  so  far  till  after 
nightfall,  and  hence  to  attempt  it  seemed  to  me  to  be 
both  unwise  and  unsafe. 

Most  naturally  I  asked,  "  Are  there  any  houses  on  the 
way  where  I  can  likely  find  lodging  for  the  night.'" 
Tlie  answer  was  not  a  very  assuring  one;  yet  it  seemed 
to  afford  ground  for  a  reasonable  hope  :  "  There  is  one 
family  living  five  miles  from  here  where  you  can  prob- 
ably be  accommodated."  "Then  you  feel  pretty  certain 
that  they  will  be  willing  to  keep  me  for  the  night.'" 
"  O,  yes,  I  think  there  is  no  room  to  doubt  it,"  and  I  be- 
lieved my  informant  honestly  meant  what  he  said. 

Thus  encouraged,  I  resumed  my  journey  with  quick- 
ened hope  and  step.  At  length  the  solitary  house 
loomed  up  in  the  narrowing  distance — a  fair-sized  and 
comfortable  farmhouse  with  suitable  outbuildings  around 
it.  Api^roaching,  I  inquired  for  the  lady  of  the  house, 
which  soon  brought  us  into  conversation  on  tlie  subject 
which  just  then  was  Ujipermost  in  my  mind.  Was  I 
cordially  received?    Tlie  sequel  must  show. 

I  found  her  full  of  excuses,  but  more  full,  apparently, 
of  determined  inhospitality,  not  to  say  inhumanity.  In 
modestly  urging  my  plea  I  told  her  who  I  was  and 
whither  I  was  bound;  spoke  of  my  willingness  to  sleep 
on  the  floor  if  need  be,  and  of  money  in  possession  to 


Personal  Life,  and  Ministry. 


79 


pay  for  both  lodging  and  food;  reminded  her  of  tlie 
near  approacli  of  night  and  of  tlie  long,  dreary  distanc  e 
to  the  next  town  ;  but  her  (womanly)  heart  was  impervi- 
ous alike  tg  solid  logic  and  gentle  persuasion.  The 
husband,  comiijg  in  from  the  farm,  was  consulted,  but 
he  manifestly  dared  to  "be  none  otherwise  minded" 
than  to  quietly  submit  to  her  sovereign  decision,  which 
submission  fell  also  to  my  lot,  but  with  this  material 
difference:  her  decision  in  its  bearing  on  his  case  still 
left  him  in  comfortable  (piarters,  wliile  its  bearing  on 
mine  sent  me  out  "  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,"  to 
grope  my  way  in  solitude  and  gathering  darkness  as  best 
I  might. 

What  became  the  future  of  that  family  I  never  knew, 
and  doubtless  never  shall  until  I  come  to  read  their  life 
history  with  my  own  in  the  clear  light  of  eternity.  I>ong 
time-  ago  my  heart  forga\e  tlicni,  and  I  also  trust  that 
long  ago  they  sought  and  found  forgixeness  of  God;  \et 
it  must  forever  remain  true,  that,  if  so  hajipy  as  to  be 
saved,  their  celestial  blessedness  will  be  diminished  by 
at  least  so  much  as  they  failed  to  honor  the  divine  rule, 
"Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of 
these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  Theirs 
was  a  fit  opportunity  to  minister  unto  one  of  Christ's 
little  ones,  but  ihey  failed  to  use  it. 

"  Faint,  yet  pursuing."  The  crisis  now  reached  was 
a  very  trying  one,  but  necessity  and  a  resolute  will  con- 
joined in  pointing  to  the  one  practical  and  proper  course 
of  going  forward;  and  go  forward  I  did,  "not  fearing  or 
doubting,  with  Christ  on  my  side."  The  sameness  of 
that  long,  dreary  forest  way  was  nowhere  broken  by 
sight  of  a  human  habitation,  nor  its  loneliness  relieved 
by  word  or.  presence  of  a  human  being,  except  as  I  met 
two  men  riding  in  a  bpggy,  until  at  length  a  welcome 
signal  proclaimed  my  coveted  approach  to  rest.  .  "  Hark, 


80 


Sunset  Memories. 


hark,  hark,  hear  the  dogs  bark!  "  never  before  had  in  it 
such  significance  to  my  mind,  and  never  before  had 
canine  bark  boomed  out  such  music  to  my  ear.  "  Ca- 
tawba must  be  near;  "  and  so  it  proved.  Here  I  found 
a  commodious  hotel,  which  I  entered  too  weary  for 
aught  but  rest  and  sleep,  even  craving  hunger  being 
held  in  abeyance  by  these  stronger  needs.  Shown  in 
due  time  to  a  room  and  bed,  I  committed  myself  with 
devout  thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  tlie  keeping  of 
the  heavenly  Father  and  was  soon  locked  in  profound 
slumber. 

Next  morning,  after  a  good  breakfast  and  settlement 
of  bill,  the  new  day's  travel  began  with  renewed  strength, 
leading  to  May's  Landing,  thence  to  Hosea  Joslyn's, 
and  thence  to  the  camp  ground,  wliere  footsore  and 
weary  I  found  a  warm  welcome,  notice  of  my  coming 
having  been  given  by  Dr.  Gill,  who  had  overtaken  me  in 
his  narrow  sulky  and  had  kindly  conveyed  my  package 
to  the  family  tent. 

At  the  camp  meeting  the  three  ministers  who  im- 
pressed me  most  were  the  Revs.  John  K.  Shaw,  Joseph 
B.  McKeever,  and  William  A.  Brooks.  Tlie  great  Sun- 
day morning  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  first.  It  was 
ponderous  in  thought,  yet  animated  in  utterance,  and 
left  a  deep  impression  upon  the  large,  attentive  audience. 
The  text,  as  I  recollect,  was  Mark  xvi,  15,  16:  "Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,"  etc.  One  illustration  struck  me  with 
great  force  and  has  always  been  remembered.  He  said, 
"As  I  was  walking  out  this  morning  among  the  trees  be- 
yond the  circle  of  the  tents  I  saw  before  me  a  great 
cobweb,  stretched  across  from  tree  to  tree,  obstructing 
my  way;  but  with  a  stroke  of  my  cane  I  brushed  it  aside 
and  passed  right  along.  Even  so  the  Gospel,  in  its 
steady  march  to  victory,  shall  as  certainly  break  through 
all  obstructions,  until  its  glorious  mission  is  accom- 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


81 


plished."  Of  tliis  distinguished  minister  I  shall  have 
occasion  to  speak  farther  on. 

The  afternoon  sermon  by  young  McKeever  was 
founded  on  Num.  xxiii,  lo:  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his!"  His 
tender  subject  combined  with  his  devout  face,  voice,  and 
manner  to  render  tlie  discourse  peculiarly  affecting  and 
effective.  The  reading  of  one  of  his  hymns,  "  Give  me 
the  wings  of  faith  to  rise,"  etc.,  seemed  scarcely  less  than 
seraphic.  To  my  young  ears  it  was  quite  new;  but  I 
speedily  committed  it  to  memory,  and  it  has  ever  since 
been  a  familiar  and  favorite  guest.  In  less  than  three 
years  his  work  was  done.  At  the  Conference  of  1842  he 
was  changed  from  Bloomfield,  after  one  year's  service, 
and  appointed  to  Halsey  Street,  Newark.  "  Can  one 
so  young  and  so  nervously  frail  endure  the  heavy  strain 
of  so  large  and  responsible  a  charge  ?  "  was  the  grave 
question  concerning  which  many  grave  doubts  were  en- 
tertained. During  the  next  Conference,  held  in  New 
Brunswick,  the  preachers  were  all  invited  to  meet  at  the 
railroad  station  at  a  designated  time,  to  pay  fitting 
honor  to  the  passing  remains  of  tliis  deeply  lamented 
young  minister.  It  is  a  noteworthy  coincidence  that  a 
friend  standing  at  his  bedside  and  witnessing  his  tri- 
umphant deatli  should  involuntarily  repeat,  just  as  he 
breathed  his  last,  the  camp  meeting  text  of  three  years 
before  above  given. 

The  labors  of  Brother  Brooks  at  that  meeting,  espe- 
cially in  prayer  and  exhortation,  and  accounts  of  his 
Christian  experience,  found  way  to  many  hearts  and 
won  them  to  Jesus. 

One  of  the  most  touching  incidents  of  that  meeting 
was  the  request  which  came  to  me  from  a  young  man 
of  our  neighborhood,  Enoch  Johnson.  His  heart,  heav- 
ily burdened  with  a  sense  of  sin,  he  said  to  me  with 


82 


Sunset  Memories. 


deep  emotion,  calling  me  by  my  familiar  first  name, 
"Nicky,  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me."  We  were  botli 
greatly  affected  as  we  passed  out  into  the  woods,  where 
we  talked  freely,  then  knelt  down  together  and  prayed. 
He  felt  in  a  measure  relieved,  but  not  satisfied,  and  I 
felt  that  a  new  and  serious  responsibility  had  come  to 
me.  My  advice  was  to  j)resent  himself  at  tlie  altar  as  a 
seeker  when  the  next  invitation  should  be  given,  and 
never  to  cease  seeking  until  he  should  find.  He  was 
afterward  converted  and  became  an  active,  useful  mem- 
ber of  the  Church. 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


83 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Semicentennial  Address. 

DURING  the  annual  session  of  the  Newark  Confer- 
ence held  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  March  30,  1892, 
three  members  of  the  body,  namely,  the  Revs.  Richard 
Vanhorne,  Abraliam  M.  Palmer,  and  the  writer,  reached 
the  fiftieth  milestone  of  their  Conference  connection  ; 
and  under  a  resolution  passed  at  the  previous  year's 
session  they  were  invited  to  deliver  semicentennial 
addresses  before  the  Conference,  which  was  done  on 
April  2.  The  writer's  address  was  afterward  published 
in  pamplilet  form  and  sent  to  many  of  the  ministers,  as 
also  to  other  friends.  The  substance  of  that  address 
seems  necessary  to  the  completeness  of  this  volume,  but 
only  portions  of  it  can  here  be  given. 

Address. 

Fifty-one  years  and  four  months  ago  a  plain,  unpre- 
tending youth  might  have  been  seen  wending  his  way, 
in  true  primitive  style,  on  horseback  and  saddlebags, 
toward  his  first  circuit,  there  to  enter  upon  liis  lifework 
as  an  itinerant  preacher.  That  red-letter  day  in  my 
life  was  December  4,  1840,  tliree  days  before  1  was  sev- 
enteen years  old.  After  laboring  on  that  circuit  for  a 
year  and  four  months,  under  direction  of  a  jiresiding 
elder,  I  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  Jersey  Confer- 
ence in  April,  1842  ;  so  that  the  present  month  marks 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  my  unbroken  Conference  re- 
lation,'while  the  whole  measure  of  my  continuous  active 
work  in  the  itinerancy  aggregates  fifty-one  and  a  third 
years. 


84 


Sunset  Memories. 


The  only  rare  or  especially  noteworthy  feature  in  all 
this  is  the  fact  that  very  few  have  ever  been  permitted 
to  render  fifty  and  more  years  of  unbroken  service  in 
the  regular  work  anti  then  pass  to  the  retired  list  at  no 
greater  age  than  sixty-eight  years  and  a  fraction  over. 
If  other  instances  of  the  same  kind  are  on  record  we 
shall  be  pleased  to  learn  of  them. 

My  early  recollections  turn  to  the  godly  men  who  in 
my  boyhood  days  traveled  the  old  Bargaintown  Circuit, 
or  who  came  to  it  and  preached  as  visitors.  That  cir- 
cuit in  those  days  covered  at  least  the  whole  of  Atlantic 
County,  embracing  an  area  of  six  hundred  square  miles. 
It  was  a  four  weeks'  circuit,  and  manned  by  two  preach- 
ers. I  was  wont  to  look  upon  these  men  witli  the  deep- 
est reverence  as  niessengers  sent  from  God  to  the  peo- 
ple and  to  me.  Among  them  were  the  following  :  The 
Revs.  Henry  Boehm,  who  became  our  venerated  cen- 
tenarian, James  Moore,  Daniel  Fidler,  Peter  Vannest, 
John  Walker,  William  Lunimis,  Jolin  Henry,  Edward 
Stout,  James  Ayars,  James  Long,  Abraliam  Owen,  George 
A.  Raybold,  Edward  Page,  by  whom  I  was  received  on 
probation,  Thomas  G.  Stewart,  Zerubbabel  Gaskill, 
Thomas  Christoi)her,  Jacob  Loudenslager,  Joseph  At- 
M'ood,  Abraham  (iearliart,  who  gave  me  my  first  ex- 
horter's  license,  David  Duffell,  Noah  Edwards,  ^^'iliiam 
A.  Brooks,  and  Josiah  F.  Canfield. 

My  first  jjresiding  elder  was  the  venerable  Rev. 
Thomas  Neall,  a  man  of  mellow  piety,  an  earnest 
preacher,  and  a  faithful  administrator.  "When  he  sud- 
denly laid  hands  upon  me  to  fill  a  vacancy  on  Medford 
Circuit  I  was  holding  an  exhorter's  license  only,  and 
had  not  attempted  to  preach  except  on  the  verbal 
authority  of  tlie  Rev.  Matthias  Jerman,  the  excellent 
father  of  Mrs.  S.  L.  Baldwin.  He  had  invited  me  to 
assist  him  in  revival  services  on  the  adjoining  circuit; 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


85 


<ind,  having  reported  for  duty,  I  was  soon  honored, 
more  than  comforted,  by  his  saying,  "  I  want  you  to 
preach  to-night."  With  mingled  surprise  and  fear  I 
replied,  "  I  have  no  license  to  preacli,"  to  whicli  lie 
])romptly  said,  "  I  give  you  license  ;  "  and  wlien  I  sug- 
gested that  I  might  expose  myself  to  censure  he  sought 
to  allay  my  fears  by  saying  in  his  kind,  assuring  way 
that  he  would  stand  between  me  and  all  harm.  I  made 
the  attempt  and  did  the  best  I  could  on  three  successive 
evenings.  A  few  weeks  after  tliis  came  tlie  summons 
to  forsake  all  and  follow  Christ  in  the  great  itinerant 
work. 

I  became  associated  as  junior  preacher  with  four 
successive  preachers  in  charge,  the  Revs.  John  W. 
McDougall  and  John  F.  Crouch  on  Medford  Circuit, 
Bromwell  Andrew  on  Freehold  Circuit,  and  Thomas 
McCarroll  in  ('ross  Street  Station,  Paterson,  with  which 
the  two  newly  formed  societies  at  Red  Mills  (now 
Areola)  and  Acquackanonk  (now  Passaic)  had  become 
incorporated.  Fain  would  I  pause  to  drop  a  tear  and 
lay  a  wreath  of  affectionate  remembrance  upon  the 
casket  of  each  did  the  time  permit. 

To  these  honored  names  I  add  two  others  toward 
whom  I  was  called  to  bear  the  relation  of  preacher  in 
charge  on  Madison  Circuit  in  1845  and  1846 — the  Revs. 
Garner  R.  Snyder  and  Robert  S.  Harris.  For  many  years 
their  names  in  the  New  Jersey  Conference  have  been  fa- 
miliar and  fragrant.  The  former  has  recently  joined  the 
church  of  the  firstborn  in  heaven;  the  latter  still  abides 
and  holds  an  honorable  place  on  the  retired  list. 

Some  reminiscences  of  the  Conference  of  1842,  held 
at  Camden,  may  not  be  out  of  place.  It  was  a  very 
remarkable  one.  Two  of  its  members  were  tried  for 
immorality  and  expelled;  another,  holding  a  prominent 
position,  was  charged  with  unchristian  conduct,  and 


86 


Sunset  Memories. 


only  after  a  long, -exciting  trial  was  honorably  acquit- 
ted; two  others,  young  men  on  ])robation,  were  dropiied 
for  alleged  imprudent  conduct.  Tiie  furies  seemed  to 
be  let  loose.  ' 

This  Conference  was  rendered  especially  memorable 
to  the  twelve  young  men  who  were  admitted  by  it  on 
trial;  namely,  Joseph  B.  Dobbins,  Abraham  M.  Palmer, 
John  I).  Blain,  Henry  B.  Beegle,  Michael  E.  Ellison, 
Richard  Vanhorne,  Nicholas  Vansant,  David  Graves, 
Eletcher  Lummis,  Joseph  Gaskill,  Charles  A.  Kingsbury, 
Henry  Baker.  A  year  later  the  last  named  two  were 
discontinued  at  their  own  request,  through  failure  of 
health.  Brother  Baker,  the  excellent  father  of  Dr. 
Henry  Baker,  still  lives  at  Pennington,  greatly  beloved 
for  his  goodness  and  usefulness.  Dr.  Kingsbury  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  became  eminent  in 
the  dental  profession  and  prominent  in  one  of  our  lead- 
ing churches.  Within  a  few  months  he  has  passed  to 
his  heavenly  home,  full  of  years  and  honors.  It  is  a 
noteworthy  coincidence  that  the  distinguished  son  of  his 
Conference  classmate  of  1842,  with  whom  after  a  year 
he  returned  to  the  local  ranks,  was  his  last  pastor,  and 
as  such  officiated  at  his  funeral. 

What  of  the  otiier  ten.'    Alas,  death  has  also  been 
busy  here.     Blain  is  gone;  Ellison  is  gone;  Graves  is 
gone;  Lummis  is  gone;   Dobbins  is  gone;  while  only 
Palmer,  Vanhorne,  Beegle,  Gaskill,  and  Vansant  remain. 
"  Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream. 
Hears  all  its  sons  away." 

True,  O  poet,  true;  but  not  true  are  the  remaining  lines 
of  the  stanza: 

"  They  fly,  forgotten,  as  a  dream 
Dies  at  the  opening  clay." 

Nay,  rather,  "The  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  re- 
membrance."    Can   we   forget  our  fallen  comrades.' 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


87 


Never,  never,  "  while  life  and  thought  and  being  last, 
or  immortality  endures."  Separation  has,  indeed,  come 
and  must  come  ;  but  separation  only  foretokens  a  con- 
scious, blessed,  eternal  reunion  "  in  the  sweet  by  and 
by." 

Who  were  the  chief  men  of  that  notable  Conference? 
Many  might  be  named,  but  the  time  is  too  short.  Only 
the  champion  debaters  and  a  few  of  their  associates  can 
be  mentioned:  the  Revs.  Jolin  S.  Porter,  Isaac  W  inner, 
Ricliard  W.  Petherbridge,  Manning  Force,  Jefferson 
Lewis,  \Vaters  Burrows,  George  F.  Brown,  William  A. 
Wilmer,  Caleb  .\.  Lippincott,  Tlionias  Sovereign,  John 
K.  Shaw,  John  L.  Lciiliart,  .\biam  K.  Street,  Alexander 
Gilmore,  Francis  A.  Morrcll,  Joscpli  Ashbrook.  Others 
of  scarcely  less  strength,  but  greater  reticence,  came 
gradually  to  the  front  and  proved  themselves  worthy 
aids,  and  at  length  able  successors,  of  the  stalwart 
fathers,  as  James  M.  Tuttle,  Crook  S.  Vancleve,  James 
O.  Rogers,  Charles  H.  Whitecar,  George  Hitchens,  and 
numbers  more.  (By  the  bye,  the  Conference  had  not 
at  that  time  been  invaded  by  the  title  D.D.) 

Three  young*  men  of  unusnal  brilliancy  and  promise 
in  that  Conference  became  early  crowned  but  a  little 
time  after:  the  Revs.  Joseph  B.  McKeever.  Wesley  C. 
Hudson,  and  Lewis  T.  Maps.  Fondly,  sadly  are  they 
remembered  by  those  of  us  who  knew  them. 

The  marked  changes  which  fifty  years  have  wrought 
in  Conference  proceedings  deserve  a  passing  notice.  In 
the  earlier  times  it  was  not  enough  when  a  preacher's 
name  was  called  in  the  examination  of  character  for 
the  presiding  elder  to  answer,  "  Nothing  against  him," 
but  encli  in  his  turn  was  expected  to  leave  the  room  and 
remain  without  until  representations  of  liis  character  and 
work  should  be  made  by  the  elder,  and  often  by  others, 
in  speeches  of  less  or  greater  length.    Imagine  the  time 


88 


Sunset  Memories. 


thus  needlessly  consumed.  This  rule  is  now  wisely 
confined  to  candidates  and  those  who  are  in  their 
studies. 

The  gathering  of  statistics  and  of  the  stewards'  funds 
used  to  be  attended  to  in  the  regular  sessions,  which 
again  used  up  a  great  deal  of  precious  time.  This  of 
late  years  has  been  obviated  by  a  special  afternoon  ses- 
sion; but  now  even  this  is  to  be  abolished  and  a  new 
time-saving  experiment  tried.    Success  ! 

The  speech-making  in  the  olden  times  was  far  more 
restricted  than  now  as  to  the  number  of  speakers,  but 
far  less  restricted  as  to  the  time  occupied  by  each. 
Then  the  Conference  had  leaders ;  now  it  has  none,  but 
every  man  is  a  leader  for  himself  and  without  any  breach 
of  either  law  or  courtesy  may  speak  at  will,  though  he 
be  the  youngest  member  of  the  body.  Then  there  was 
no  time  limit,  every  man  being  a  law  to  himself,  except 
as  necessity  might  sometimes  ordain  a  limit,  which  it  did 
on  one  occasion  very  notably  when  Bishop  Morris  ])re- 
sided  at  the  Bridgeton  Conference  in  1853.  The  order 
of  the  day  had  come,  the  subject  being  the  very  familiar 
one  of  Pennington  Seminary.  A  venerable  brother  arose, 
charged  to  the  full  with  an  appeal  of  uncertain  (piantity 
in  behalf  of  the  institution,  but  before  opening  sug- 
gested that  the  many  brethren  outside  of  the  church  be 
called  in.  The  laconic  reply  of  the  bishop  was  far 
more  forcible  than  elegant :  "  They're  dogged  to  death 
by  so  many  long  speeches  !  "  Such  an  episode  in  these 
times  seems  hardly  possible,  for,  though  our  modern 
rules  admit  of  many  sjjeeches,  they  happily  shut  out  the 
long  ones. 

In  signal  contrast  with  the  long  speeches  were  the 
short  published  minutes  of  those  earlier  Conferences. 
Now  a  stout  pamphlet  of  a  hundred  or  more  pages  is 
required  to  publish  our  doings;  then  an  unpretending 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


89 


tract  of  a  dozen  l);igc.s  siifficed  for  the  same  purpose. 
It  was  not  until  several  years  after  our  admission  that 
the  venture  was  made  of  increasing  tlie  nund)er  of 
pages  to  sixteen;  then  they  grew  to  twenty;  and  thence 
little  by  little  they  Iiave  attained  their  present  number 
and  size. 

I  rejoice  that  I  ]ia\e  been  jiermitted  to  grow  old  in 
the  acti\e  service  of  (lod  and  tlie  C'hurcli.  It  is  not 
common  for  old  mep  to  sing  liallelujalis  over  tlieir  ad- 
vanced age;  but  to  me  there  is  nollung  terrible  or  for- 
bidding in  three- score  and  eight  or  ten,  or  even  in  tlie 
ninety  years  and  bexond  of  ni_\'  father  and  mother,  if 
one's  heart  may  but  keep  young  and  his  spirit  sunny. 
The  great  German  natuialist  Alexander  lIuml)oldt,  writ- 
ing to  a  friend  not  long  before  liis  dealli,  said,  "I  have 
now  reached  a  cheerless  old  age."  Cheerless  old  age, 
indeed  !  I  cannot  sa\'  this,  and  hoi>e  ne\  er  to  be  com- 
pelled to  say  it.  Rather,  let  the  word  be  from  this  time 
onward  to  my  dying  day,  "  I  have  now  reached  a  cheer- 
ful, trustful,  happy  old  age." 

I  thank  God  for  my  early  conx  cvsion.  Conscientious 
and  prayerful  from  my  earliest  ret  i illectioii,  I  definitely 
sought  and  found  the  grace  of  (  onx  ei  sion  w  hen  a  boy 
of  fourteen  years,  which  was  soon  followed  by  my  union 
with  the  Church.  The  pious  li\  es  of  my  parents  and 
the  devout  worship  of  the  family  altar,  together  with  the 
earnest  ]ireaching  of  God's  ministers  ar.d  the  intelligent, 
faithful  instructions  of  my  Sunday  school  teacher,  had 
much  to  do  in  bringing  to  pass  that  supreme  event  of 
niy  life. 

Warm  and  continual  gratitude  to  God  for  my  own 
early  salvation  has  been  intensified  b)'  his  fulfillment  of 
the  ancient  assurance,  "  For  the  promise  is  unto  you, 
and  to  your  ch.ildren."  This  old  covenant  was  signally 
verified  to  my  father  and  mother  in  the  youthful  con- 


90 


Sunset  Memories. 


version  of  their  two  daughters  and  seven  sons,  six  of 
whom  became  preachers,  and  four  of  the  six  members 
of  Annual  Conferences.  One  of  these  fuur  is  not,  for 
eleven  years  ago  God  took  him  from  labor  to  reward 
after  an  eminent  ministry  of  thirty-seven  years — a  minis- 
try which  is  being  worthily  perpetuated  in  the  person  of 
a  devoted  and  useful  son. 

The  same  old  promise  was  blessedly  renewed  in  its 
fulfillment  to  myself  and  the  wife,  of  my  youtli.  Our 
three  sons,  including  an  adopted  one,  and  our  three 
daughters  were  all  early  brought  into  saving  union  with 
Christ  and  fellowsiiip  with  his  Churcli,  where  they  abide 
as  members  and  workers.  Happily,  whensoe\er  they 
visit  tlie  father  and  tlie  present  mother  or  we,  in  turn, 
enter  the  homes  of  tlie  children  sunshine  never  fails  to 
meet  sunsiiine  ! 

I  must  reckon  among  the  causes  for  devout  thanks- 
giving the  maintenance,  through  grace,  of  the  conscien- 
tiousness of  earlier  years.  Tiiis  has  held  me  steadily 
up  to  duty,  though  it  has  sometimes  jjroved  an  incon- 
venience, and  doubtless  also  a  hindrance  to  popularity 
and  promotion.  Either  this  or  absence  of  proper  en- 
lightenment has  repeatedly  cast  my  lot  with  minorities, 
even  very  small  ones;  as  when,  in  1855,  five  or  six  of  us 
only  stood  up  for  the  "Troy  Conference  resolution" 
making  nonslaveholding  a  test  of  church  membership; 
and  again,  in  i860,  when  the  still  small  number  of  six- 
teen voted  in  favor  of  a  footnote  in  the  Discipline  tak- 
ing advanced  ground  on  the  same  subject.  But  liow 
quickly  the  scales  were  turned  !  In  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1864  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  be  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Slavery,  and  tliere  help  by  voice  and  \  ote 
to  frame  the  rule  by  ^\hich  sla\eliolding  was  made  an 
absolute  bar  to  membership  in  tlie  Mctliodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  afterward  to  go  on  record  with  the  enthu- 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry.  91 


siastic,  overwhelming  majority  tliat.  ado])tcd  tlie  rule  in 
lull  ('onference. 

Finall)',  above  every  other  consideration  I  magnify 
the  grace  of  God  in  my  jiersonal  religious  exi)erience. 
Part  of  the  home  theology  under  which  I  was  reared 
distinctly  recognized  the  doctrine  of  entire  sanctification 
or  j)crfect  love  as  being  at  once  scriptural  and  W'esleyan; 
and  there  were  times  in  my  earlier  ministry,  especially, 
^\  hen  I  consciously  enjoyed  the  experience.  But  failure,* 
through  timidity  or  otherwise,  to  maintain  the  testimony 
as  often  brought  with  it  a  decline  of  the  exjierience.  At 
the  Conference  of  1875,  in  Jersey  City,  my  heart  was 
greatly  stirred  under  the  Sunday  morning  sermon  by 
Iiishoi)  Tjowman  on  prayer — a  sermon  at  once  scholarly, 
simple,  beautiful,  fervid,  masterly.  One  illustration  cf 
the  power  of  prayer  was  drawn  from  the  preacher's  own 
experience  when  a  young  Christian.  Of  a  sensitive,  ex-' 
citable  nature,  his  easilv  besetting  sin  \\as  anger,  which 
often  betrayed  him  into  sinful  words  and  acts  and  brought 
distressing  condemnation  to  his  soul.  This  bent  to  sin- 
ning became  a  burden  and  a  weariness  too  grievous  to  be 
longer  borne.  Tlien  came  the  awfid  crisis;  sluitting 
himself  in  alone  with  Clod,  he  resolved  on  victory  or 
death.  After  an  agony  of  prayer,  "with  strong  crying 
and  tears  to  him  who  was  able  to  save  him  from  death," 
the  victory  came,  his  overmastering  sin  was  crucified, 
and  his  soul  saved  alive,  unfettered  and  free;  for,  said 
tlie  bishop,  "from  that  day  to  this  I  have  not  felt  the 
stirring  of  anger." 

Not  very  long  after  this  there  came  to  me  also  a  crisis, 
in  which,  under  the  teaching  of  the  word  and  the  illu- 
mination of  the  Si)irit,  there  was  disclosed  to  me  a  re- 
siduum of  selfishness  and  ])ride  and  anger  wh.ich  startled 
and  humiliated  nie'l)eyond  measiure.  Certain  papers 
had  been  read  and  discussed  before  the  Newark  Preach^ 


92 


Sunset  Memories. 


ers'  Meeting  antagonizing  the  AVesleyan  doctrine  of  en- 
tire sanctification  as  a  distinct  work  of  grace  subsequent 
to  justification.  ']^he  effect  was  to  beget  in  my  mind  a 
temporary  doubt  as  to  the  soundness  of  the  old  tradi- 
tional view  in  which  I  had  been  educated.  With  avidity 
I  read  whatever  I  could  find  controverting  this  old  view, 
and  was  only  too  glad  to  lay  the  flattering  unction  to  my 
soul  that,  being  justified,  of  which  I  had  no  shadow  of 
doubt,  I  must  likewise  be  already  sanctified  according 
to  the  Zinzendorfian  theory.  But  ever  and  anon  my 
ha])py  daydreams  would  be  interrupted  by  conscious, 
lurking  carnality  which  I  could  not  explain  away  on  this 
theory. 

At  length  I  was  compelled  to  reopen  the  whole  ques- 
tion and  proceed  in  its  examination  on  strictly  scriptural 
grounds.  No  matter  for  the  nonce  what  Zinzendorf 
t.uight  or  Wesley  taught;  what  did  the  Bible  teach  ?  On 
bended  knee  and  with  )  carning  heart  I  read  and  stud- 
ied the  holy  word,  collating  whatever  bore  upon  the 
subject  and,  when  needful,  seeking  the  aid  of  the  orig- 
inal. I  searched  and  wept  and  prayed,  with  the  dil- 
igence and  zeal  of  one  seeking  for  hid  treasure. 

The  first  result  was  a  vivid  revelation  and  keen  con- 
viction of  my  unsanctified  state;  the  second  was  a  clear 
discernment  of  my  high  privilege,  with  a  deep  corre- 
sponding sense  of  imperative  duty  ;  a  third  followed,  in 
a  quiet,  firm  resolve  to  obey  the  voice  of  God  through 
the  Spirit  and  word,  whatever  might  be  the  cost.  That 
soon  came  in  a  deeply  humiliating  confession  of  my  heart- 
felt need  before  a  company  of  sympathizing  friends  who 
had  been  invited  to  come  together  for  ten  successive 
days,  in  order,  by  their  counsels  and  prayers,  to  help  a 
struggling  soul  into  a  larger,  better  freedom.  Hail, 
glorious  freedom,  all  divine;  for,  "If  the  Son  therefore 
shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed  !  "  This 


Personal  Life  and  Ministry. 


93 


and  kindred  passages  now  came  to  be  suffused  witli  a 
new,  glowing  illumination,  which  gave  to  tliL-m  a  beauty 
and  significance  such  as  I  had  not  seen  before.  Now 
my  experience  was  brought  into  sweet  harmony  with 
their  deeper  hidden  meaning.  And  with  the  passing 
years  there  has  been  a  blessed,  continual  growth  in  this 
experience,  never,  1  trirst,  to  cease  until  the  perfect  day 
of  earthl\-  atlainnient  shall  merge  itself  in  the  full  eternal 
blessedness  of  heaven  ! 

AMth  your  indulgence  I  now  pass  from  the  effective  to 
the  supernumerary  ranks.  This  I  do  uncomplainingly, 
cheerfully,  and  with  a  grateful  ajipreciation  of  the  kind- 
ness and  confidence  of  niy  ministerial  brethren,  and  of 
the  churches  and  districts  which  I  have  ser\  ed.  If  in  my 
necessary  seclusion  you  sometimes  call  me  to  mind, 
please  think  of  me  forgivingly,  charitably,  prayerfully. 
Think  not  of  me  as  repining  over  any  suspected  or  fan- 
cied neglect,  but  as  quietly  confiding  for  needed  succor 
and  care  in  the  supreme  goodness  of  (iod  and  the  ready 
beneficence  of  the  Church  which  I  have  so  long  endeav- 
ored to  serve.  Think  not  of  me  as  idle  or  unemployed, 
with  time  hanging  heavily  on  my  hands,  but  as  still  dil- 
igent in  study  and  ever  busy  with  voice  and  pen,  accord- 
ing to  strength  and  opportunity,  in  trying  to  make  the 
world  better.  Think  not  of  me  as  gloomy  or  sour  or 
morose,  but  as  rejoicing  evermore,  continuing  instant  in 
prayer,  and  in  everything  giving  thanks.  And  at  last, 
when  I  am  gone,  O  think  of  me  as  having  swept  through 
the  gates,  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ! 

The  official  reporter  of  the  A  V7i'(/;-/C-  Daily  Advertiscr,\\^\- 
ing  furnished  the  closing  ])ortions  of  this  address  for  pub- 
lication in  that  well-known  paper,  added  the  following 
statement,  which  is  given  solely  on  his  responsibity  as  a 
matter  of  history  : 


94 


Sunset  Memories. 


"During  the  reading  of  these  words  there  was  a  most 
pathetic  and  touching  scene.  I'^very  member  of  the 
Conference  was  deei)ly  affedcd,  antl  many  men  bowed 
their  heads  and  wept  like  children,  'i'here  were  cries 
of  'Amen'  and  '  Praise  tlie  Lord  '  resounding  all  through 
the  church,  and  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  build- 
ing." 


PART  III. 

CHRONOLOGICAL  GLIMPSES  OF  PAS- 
TORAL CHARGES  AND  WORK. 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


97 


PART  III. 


Chronological  Glimpses  of  Pastoral  Charges  and  Work 


LMOST  instinctively  on  reaching  my  first  circuit  I 


gravitated  to  the  home  of  Squire,  later  Judge, 
James  Rogers,  it  being  understood  near  and  far  that 
this  was  the  Medford  paradise  for  young  Methodist 
preachers;  and,  in  fact,  for  all  others.  Here  a  hearty 
welcome  met  the  new  boy  preacher  from  tlie  rotund, 
big-hearted  liost  and  liis  delightful  family,  consisting  of 
tlie  gentle  invalid  mother  and  two  lovely  daughters. 
The  only  son,  William  R.,  had  entered  the  ministry 
nearly  three  years  before.  Through  special  invitation 
of  the  elder  daugliter,  Anna,  a  visit  was  made  to  that 
home  by  those  saintly  Christian  women,  Mrs.  Phffibe 
Palmer,  of  New  York,  and  Mrs.  Mary  D.  James,  of 
Mount  Holly,  which  gave  me  my  first  opportunity  of 
seeing  and  talking  with  them.  Not  very  long  after 
Miss  Anna  Rogers  became  Mrs.  Harlow,  of  Philadelpliia, 
where  she  continued  to  live  the  same  j)ure,  gentle,  beau- 
tiful life  as  aforetime,  until  that  life  expanded  into  the 
more  beautiful,  all-perfect  life  of  heaven. 

In  1 841  a  stranger  came  to  Medford  and  organized  a 
class  in  penmanship,  becoming  at  length  a  successful 
teacher  of  successive  classes.  Uniting  with  the  church 
by  letter  and  "  showing  all  good  fidelity,"  steps  were 
erelong  taken  to  give  him  license  to  preach.  Tlie  trial 
sermon  was  founded  on  the  text,  "  I  shall  die  in  my 
nest"  (Job  xxix,  18).  The  Quarterly  Conference 
granted  the  license,  and  also  recommended  him  for  the 
traveling  ministry.     In  .\pril,  1842,  the  New  Jersey  Con- 


— Medford  Circuit,  1840-42. 


98 


Sunset  Memories. 


ference  met  at  Camden,  and  among  the  twelve  young 
men  received  on  trial,  as  already  noted,  were  David 
Graves  and  Nicholas  Vansant,  recommended  by  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  Medford  Circuit. 

On  May  13-20,  1894,  the  seventy-third  anniversary 
of  the  Medford  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  held, 
Mfhich  by  invitation  I  attended.  This  afforded  me  the 
rare  privilege  of  meeting  some  whom  I  had  not  seen  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  among  them  being  an  old  mem- 
ber of  the  Rogers  family  as  I  first  knew  it.  He  was 
then  a  young  man  in  the  business  employ  of  Brother 
Rogers,  a  member  of  the  church  and  notably  useful  as  a 
singer.  It  was  my  double  joy  to  call  upon  liim  at  the 
same  old  homestead  and  again  receive  his  welcome 
within  its  now  venerable  walls.  It  seems  fitting  tliat  in 
his  advanced  life  lie  should  occupy  the  home  of  his 
young  manhood,  and  should  also  be  enjoying  the  jiublic 
honors  of  his  early  employer  and  friend  in  being  known 
as  Squire  Reading  N.  Wright. 

A  visit  to  the  sick  room  of  that  princely  consecrated 
layman,  the  Rev.  Wilson  Stokes,  was  a  great  spiritual 
luxury.  The  bountiful  entertainment  in  the  home  of 
Mr.  Potts  and  family,  the  fraternal  courtesies  of  the 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Dewitt  C.  Cobb,  and  of  the  presiding 
elder,  the  Rev.  George  Reed,  the  cordial  attentions  of 
both  the  young  and  the  old,  together  with  the  rich  re- 
ligious services  day  after  da) — these  are  written  indeli- 
bly upon  the  tablet  of  a  grateful  memory. 

Having  by  re(|uest  furnished  some  "  Recollections  " 
for  jniblication,  I  here  repeat  the  concluding  ])aragrapli: 
"My  pleasing  task  is  now  done,  my  assignment  having 
been  limited  to  recollections  of  my  predecessors  and 
contemporaries  on  my  first  circuit.  'I'liat  circuit  f;)r  more 
than  half  a  century  has  been  circled  in  my  memory  with 
a  peculiar  lialo  of  beauty  and  briglitness,  to  which  the 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


99 


late  anniversary  services  liave  but  added  fresh  luster  and 
glory."  One  of  my  predecessors  yet  lives  in  a  sunny  old 
age,  "  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  the  Rev. 
Socrates  Townsend. 

In  those  days  Medford  Circuit  embraced  six  other 
well-remembered  [jlaccs,  naniel\-,  Marlton,  Luniberton, 
Vincentown,  TabLMnacle,  Hartfurd,  and  Atsiun,  some 
special  notice  of  each  of  which  would  fain  be  given  did 
not  a  lack  of  space  forbid. 

Frekhoi.d  ("irc^uit,  1S42,  1843. 

Territoriallv,  this  was  very  different  from  Medford 
(arcuit,  embracing  over  twenty  preaching  places,  and 
extending  in  length  from  Englislitown  to  Point  Pleas- 
ant, with  a  corresponding  breadth — a  large  held  for  cul- 
tivation by  two  i^reachers,  the  Rev.  Hroniwell  Andrew 
being  preacher  in  charge.  His  colleague  the  year  before 
had  been  the  popular  William  P.  Corbit. 

At  Englishtown  I  found  the  Rev.  Luther  H.  Van 
Doren  as  pastor  of  the  old  historic  Tennent  Church, 
who  warmly  invited  me  to  visit  liim  and  preach  in  his 
chapel  on  Sunday  evening,  which  I  did,  ha\ing  in  the 
.afternoon  lield  our  usual  service  at  the  schoolhouse. 
Later  lie  invited  me  repeatedly  to  speak  in  his  church, 
wliich  was  done,  liis  friendshii)  seeming  to  be  at  once 
cordial  and  real.  Coukl  wc  build  a  church  at  English- 
town  Brother  Andrew  lieroically  grapi)led  the  question 
and,  aided  by  heroic  brethren,  successfully  answered  it. 
In  November  a  glorious  re\i\a!  broke  out  here,  wliich 
resulted  in  adding  fort\-  or  more  to  the  society. 

Freehold,  wliich  ga\e  name  to  the  circuit,  was  the 
county  seat  of  Monmouth  Count)'.  Here  one  of  our 
chief  la\men  was  Josejjh  Muri)!i\-,  Esip,  father  of  tlie 
Hon.  Holmes  W.  Murphy,  so  well-known  in  legal  cir- 
cles, and  also  as  a  member  of  the  Ocean  Grove  Camp 


100 


Sunset  Memories. 


Meeting  Association,  etc.  Of  him  I  saw  but  little,  as 
during  that  year  his  college  attendance  kept  him  most 
of  the  time  from  liome ;  but  in  that  commodious  iiome 
I  was  often  well-cared  for  by  the  fatlier,  mother,  and 
sisters.  Here,  too,  was  Father  Rogers,  with  his  good 
wife  and  daughters.  His  fervent  piety,  warm  social 
spirit,  and  large  musical  talent  won  for  liini  the  confi- 
dence and  good  will  of  all.  He  and  his  wife  seemed 
fairly  entitled  to  be  the  parents  of  such  sons  as  the  Rev. 
James  O.  Rogers,  one  of  our  most  jjopular  and  success- 
ful ministers,  and  J.  Furman  Rogers,  one  of  our  genial 
and  useful  laymen  as  I  knew  him.  Tlie  Hulse  family, 
with  others,  migiit  also  be  mentioned  as  among  the  ear- 
nest supporters  of  our  then  struggling  cause. 

Turkey,  or  Blue  Ball,  now  Betliesda,  had  an  old 
church  of  the  primitive  style,  but  a  swarming  congrega- 
tion. Sunday  morning,  from  the  number  of  both  the 
conveyances  and  the  people,  reminded  one  of  a  great 
camp  meeting  gathering.  In  my  diary,  under  the  date 
of  November  6,  1842,  I  find  tiiis  entry:  "  Preaciied  in 
the  morning  at  'I'urkey,  from  2  Cor.  vii,  i.  Felt  con- 
siderable lii)erty  ;  had  no  class  nuciing  in  consecjuence 
of  laboring  witli  mourners,  who  freely  c  ame  forward  as 
soon  as  the  invitation  was  given.  C),  it  was  a  melting 
time  !  " 

Upper  Squankum,  now  Farmingdale,  was  not  far  from 
the  center  of  the  circuit.  Here  the  i)leasant  iiome  of 
Joseph  (loodenough,  Esq.,  gave  frequent  entertainment 
to  the  i)reachers,  and  but  a  sliort  distance  away  from 
the  village  was  the  ever-open  house  of  Brother  Hance 
Herbert,  accounted  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  on  the 
circuit,  as  he  was  certainly  one  of  the  plainest.  Associ- 
ated with  his  own  family  in  tliis  ])hun,  substantial  farm- 
house was  tliat  of  iiis  son-in-law,  John  B.  Williams,  an 
intelligent,  vivacious,  and  useful  local  jjreacher. 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


101 


An  adjacent  neigliboiliood,  New  Bargain,  became  tlie 
favored  scene  in  August  of  a  wonderful  camp  meeting. 
A  few  extracts  from  my  diary  will  illustrate  :  "  Such 
were  the  migiity  displays  of  God's  power  that  one  of  the 
preachers,  while  delivering  an  exhortation,  was  prostrated 
upon  his  back  to  the  floor  of  the  stand,  and  some  of  the 
people  fell  to  the  ground  ;  sinners  were  seen  weeping 
in  almost  all  parts  of  the  assembly,  and  mourners  with 
streaming  eyes  presented  themselves  at  the  altar  for 
prayers.  Many  souls  were  converted  during  the  meet- 
ing." "September  12.  The  Master  of  assemblies  is 
still  carrying  on  his  blessed  work.  Meeting  has  been 
kept  up  every  night  somewhere  on  the  circuit  since  the 
camp  meeting,  at  which  some  souls  have  generally  been 
converted."  "October  31.  I  feel  bound  to  speak  again 
of  the  great  things  God  has  done  for  us  since  camp 
meeting.  Several  ai)pointments  have  shnred  more  or 
less  of  the  showers  of  divine  grace  which  he  has  so  richly 
poured  upon  us.  About  one  hundred  have  been  added 
to  the  Church,  the  most  of  whom  have  been  happily 
converted." 

One  of  the  most  eloquent  and  powerful  sermons  of 
that  meeting  was  ])reached  by  the  Rev.  James  Ayars, 
then  stationed  at  Long  Branch.  As  the  trees  of  the 
forest  are  swayed  before  a  mighty  wind,  so  were  the 
people  of  that  great  congregation  by  the  breath  of  the 
Almighty  from  the  four  winds  through  tiie  mouth  of  his 
servant.  The  effect  was  at  once  terrifying  and  trans- 
porting.   The  reader  can  imagine  the  rest. 

That  the  young  preacher  of  the  circuit  should  be 
pressed  into  preaching  right  "in  his  own  country"  was 
to  him  alike  unexpected  and  unwelcome;  but  as  he  had 
never  learned  to  say  no  to  the  voice  of  authority  he 
tremblingly  consented,  taking  for  his  text  Jcr.  viii,  20, 
"The  harvest  is  pa'^t,  the  summer  is  ended,  and  we  are 


102 


Sunset  Memories. 


not  saved."  There  afterward  came  to  my  knowledge 
two  notable  cases  of  awakening  under  tlie  sermon — a 
man  and  his  wife,,  who  soon  became  converted  and 
joined  the  Churcli,  he  being  a  teacher  in  charge  of  one 
of  the  schools  near  by. 

Dr.  Thomas  Hanlon  tells  this  incident:  When  a  boy  of 
nine  or  ten  years  he  lived  in  that  same  neighborhood 
with  a  family  named  Johnson.  Being  of  Catholic  parent- 
age, he  was  not,  of  course,  allowed  to  attend  Protestant 
service  of  any  kind.  One  day  a  young  minister  called 
to  visit  the  family,  and,  after  talking  with  them  about 
religion,  he  proposed  prayer,  the  boy  being  present  and 
listening  to  what  was  said.  "That  was  the  first  Protes- 
tant ])rayer,"  states  Dr.  Hanlon,  "  I  had  ever  heard,  and 
the  remembrance  of  that  occasion  has  ne\  er  passed  from 
me."  The  writer  of  this,  as  Dr.  Hanlon  has  often  re- 
minded me,  was  that  young  minister.  Was  there  aught 
in  that  prayer,  though  small  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
which  contributed  in  any  way  to  his  early  conversion, 
and  thence  to  his  distinguished  career  as  a  Christian,  a 
minister,  and  an  educator.?    "God  knoweth." 

Shark  River,  or  Trap,  now  Hamilton.  Here  a  great 
revival  began  on  the  first  evening  of  January,  1843,  and 
continued  until  over  a  hundred  had  professed  conversion 
and  united  with  the  Church.  "Upon  the  whole,"  says 
my  diary,  "  I  am  led  to  think  that  I  never  before  saw 
such  an  interesting,  extensive,  and  powerful  revival  in 
any  one  such  neighborhood  in  my  life."  It  was  not 
wonderful  if  a  strong  attnchment  under  such  circum- 
stances should  spring  up  between  tlie  ])astors  and  the 
people,  expressing  itself  in  a  variety  of  ways.  This  was 
notably  the  case  here;  but  details  may  not  be  given.  A 
brief  visit  to  this  place  in  1883  as  the  guest  of  Squire 
Cook  Howland  gave  me  the  pleasure  of  meeting  a  few 
of  the  older  people  who  still  remembered  me,  and  who 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


103 


told  some  amusing  things  about  the  napiing  of  certain 
children  forty  years  before. 

Manasquan,  or  Squan  \'iiiage.  On  December  28, 
1842,  a  new  union  churcli  was  here  dedicated,  liie  Rev. 
Mr.  Finch  conducting  tiie  scr\ ice  according  to  the  ritual 
of  the  Protestant  E|)iscoi)al  Church,  following  which 
came  a  very  approjiriate  sermon  by  the  Rev.  James 
Ayars,  founded  on  Psalm  cxwv,  13-18.  It  fell  on  me 
to  i)reach  in  the  afternoon,  from  the  last  clause  in  the 
book  of  Joel:  "  For  the  Lord  dweiletli  in  Zion;  "  and  at 
night  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Newman,  Independent,  preached. 
Twice  during  the  day  the  service  was  closed  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Cox,  Presbyterian.  Some  revival  followed  the  dedi- 
cation, a  few  of  the  ( onN  erts  uniting  with  us,  but  most 
of  them  with  Mr.  Newman's  society. 

Point  Pleasant.  On  our  visits  to  this  appointment  we 
were  often  entertained,  and  always  cordially,  at  tiie 
home  of  Squire  Foreman  and  family,  who  ke[)t  one  of 
the  large  boarding  houses  near  the  ocean  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  summer  \  isitors.  Though  not  members 
of  our  Church,  they  were  frequent  attendants  and  gener- 
ous sujii'jorters. 

Herbert's.  This  was  the  family  residence  of  .Abraham 
Herbert,  in  which  a  I,mu>'  room  had  been  set  apart  for 
prayer  meetings  and  (  Inss  nuetings  once  a  week,  and  for 
preaching  by  the  circuit  preachers  every  two  weeks  on 
Thursday  evening.  It  stood,  almost  in  solitude,  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Manasquan  River  and  constituted  one 
of  the  choice  Christian  homes  of  the  circuit.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  a  model  as  a  housekeeper  and  in  her 
various  other  relations.  Alas,  that  death  should  so  often 
love  a  shining  mark!  Her  departure  was  a  sad  loss 
indeed. 

Bennett's  Mills.  This  appointment  took  us  south  not 
far  from  the  old  Pergen  Iron  Works,  or  Hricksburg,  which 


104 


Sunset  Memories. 


has  recently  become  noted  as  a  health  resort  under  the 
new  and  .more  euphonious  name  of  Lakewood.  Moses 
G.  Bennett  carried  on  an  extensive  business  as  the 
owner  of  a  i^ristmill  and  a  sawmill,  and  gave  name  to 
the  i)lace,  he,  with  his  faniil\-,  being  also  prominent  in 
the  church.  This  neighborhood  has  been  remarkable 
for  the  number  of  itinerant  preachers  which  it  has  given 
to  the  Church.  The  first  of  these  was  Moses  G.  Ben- 
nett, Jr.,  who  soon  after  our  time  there  removed  West, 
where  he  received  license  to  preach,  became  a  member 
of  the  Ohio  and  Cincinnati  Conferences,  and  after  a 
brief  career  of  great  activ  ity  and  usefulness  was  called 
from  labor  to  reward.  "\'ears  latL-r  tliis  same  neighbor- 
hood sent  forth  the  Rev.  ^\■illiaul  1'.  C.  Strickland,  now 
an  honored  presiding  elder  in  New  Jersey  Conference, 
and  more  recently  the  Rev.  Marion  A.  Johnston,  one  of 
the  prornising  young  men  of  Newark  Conference. 

Here  I  must  jiause,  "  for  the  time  would  fail  me  to  tell 
of"  Burrsville.  Newman's  Schoolhouse,  White's  School- 
house,  Lower  Scpiankum,  etc.,  with  various  other  places 
and  persons  of  interest  that  jjuss  before  me  in  the  vision 
of  a  fond  recollertion,  ]>rominent  among  them  being  the 
home  of  the  preacher  in  charge  graced  with  the  pres- 
ence of  his  ever  courteous  and  genial  wife. 

I  must,  iiowever,  linger  long  enough  to  speak  of  two 
instances  of  providential  deliverance  which  came  to  me 
but  a  few  weeks  apart.  On  Monday  morning,  Novem- 
ber 14,  having  started  from  T.ii  1  rs\  ille  for  an  appoint- 
ment at  eleven  o'clock,  I  was  suddenly  tluown  from  my 
sulky,  falling  first  u])on  the  left  wheel  and  then  upon  the 
ground;  but  providentially  1  rereived  no  injury.  Being 
reminded  of  a  remarkable  dream  in  the  life  of  Dr. 
Doddridge  and  becoming  seated  again  in  the  carriage,  I 
was  led  by  what  had  occurred  to  preach  from  Psalm 
c.\lv,  20:  "The  Lord  jjreserveth  all  tlu  m  that  lovehim." 


Chronological  Glimpses.  105 


The  other  instance  is  recorded  t'.uis  in  brief:  "De- 
cember 29.  Ti)-day,  while  riding  between  Squan  Vil- 
lage and  Howell  Works,  my  horse  stumbled  and  fell  with 
his  foreparts  to  the  ground,  throwing  the  bridle  quite  off 
his  head.  The  fright  caused  him  to  run  at  full  speed, 
while  I  was  left  utterly  powerless  to  stop  him  or  to  guide 
him;  nor  could  I  with  any  degree  of  safety  venture  to 
leap.  The  danger  of  the  situation  was  greatly  increased 
by  the  fact  that  the  road  in  many  places  was  rough  and 
banked  up  on  either  side,  making  not  imorobable  a  sud- 
den upsetting  of  the  carriage  to  my  serious,  if  not  fatal, 
injury.  In  this  hour  of  extremity  I  lifted  my  heart  to 
God,  praying  fervently  for  his  gracious  protection,  and 
felt  a  comforting  assurance  that  he  would  exercise  it 
toward  me.  The  horse,  becoming  wearied  after  running 
a  mile,  slackened  his  speed  somewhat  in  ascending  a 
hill,  which  gave  me  opportunity  to  leap  to  the  ground, 
in  doing  which  1  was  thrown  down  and  slightly  injured 
ill  my  left  side.  With  quickened  speed  the  horse  ran 
about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  farther  to  the  Howell 
Works,  where  he  was  caught,  having  upset  the  sulky, 
broken  the  bridle  and  lines,  and  strewn  along  the  road 
my  valise,  buffalo  robe,  etc.;  but  for  all  this  I  cared  but 
little,  the  Lord  having  graciously  preserved  me  from  sud- 
den death.    O  how  much  I  ought  to  love  him!  " 

Paterson,  Red  Miles,  and  Acquackanonk,  1843, 1844. 

I  was  greatly  surprised  on  being  told  during  the  Con- 
ference at  New  Brunswick,  in  April,  1843,  that  I  was  to 
be  appointed  to  Paterson  as  the  colleague  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  McCarroll.  So  it  came  to  pass.  My  first  stop- 
ping place  was  at  the  sign  of  the  "  Dog  and  Teakettle," 
next  door  to  which  the  generous  Horatio  Moses  kept 
a  free  boarding-house  for  Methodist  preachers  and  other 
good  people.    .A  simple  list  of  the  names  of  his  guests 


106 


Sunset  Memories. 


from  time  to  time  would  require  no  inconsiderable 
space,  among  them  being  tiie  Revs.  George  Coles, 
George  Lane,  Peter^P.  Sandford,  William  Roberts,  John 
Kennaday,  Daniel  Parrish,  Manning  Force,  James  Buck- 
ley, James  M.  Tuttle,  Charles  H.  Whitecar,  John  L.  Len- 
hart,  John  Poisal,  etc. 

A  very  extensive  revival  had  taken  place  the  year  be- 
fore under  the  Rev.  (afterward  Dr.)  Daniel  P.  Kidder, 
greatly  increasing  the  membership  of  Cross  Street 
Church  (which  at  that  time  was  our  only  church  in  the 
])lace),  and  extending  its  influence  to  adjacent  neigh- 
borhoods, especially  to  Red  Mills,  now  Areola,  and 
Acquackanonk,  now  Passaic,  at  each  of  which  it  became 
needful  to  form  a  class  and  have  occasional  preaching. 
From  this  condition  arose  the  necessity  for  a  second 
])reacher,  which  necessity  was  provided  for  at  the  next 
Conference,  the  lot  falling  on  me. 

My  principal  fields  of  labor  were  the  two  outposts 
spoken  of,  lying  about  five  miles  apart,  the  former  being 
the  morning  appointment  and  the  latter  the  afternoon, 
with  frequent  evening  service  added;  but  on  one  Sab- 
bath in  the  month  I5rother  McCarroll  visited  and 
jireached  at  these  smaller  i>laces,  while  his  colleague 
supjjlied  the  i)ulpit  of  the  "  big  church,"  as  it  was  some- 
times called.  At  neither  of  these  outposts  had  we  a 
church  edifice  until  the  early  fall,  but  used  as  our  preach- 
ing i)lace  at  Red  Mills  a  large  room  fitted  v\>  for  the 
purpose  in  the  old-fashioned  family  residence  of  l^hvard 
B.  Force,  a  brother  of  I'residing  Elder  Manning  Force, 
who,  with  his  excellent  daughters,  cared  for  it  with  a 
true  religious  interest.  One  of  these  daughters  after- 
ward became  tiTe  well-chosen  wife  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  P. 
Fort,  whose  lamented  death  was  of  recent  occurrence. 
Here,  on  September  27,  1X4^,  the  new  church  was  dedi- 
cated, the  sermons  during  the  day  being  preached  by 


Chronological  Glimpses.  107 


the  Revs.  John  Poisal,  Asapli  C  \'ande\vatei",  and 
Charles  S.  Downs.  ]!rothcr  i^'orcc,  our  chict  !a)iiian 
here,  was  aided  by  Hrotliers  Joralcmon,  Gurnce,  and 
others. 

At  Ac(iuackanonk  we  worshiped  in  an  old,  deserted 
ballroom  until  the  new  (  liurcli  there  was  reach-  for  dedi- 
cation, which  occurred  not  long  after  that  at  Red  Mills, 
the  ofhciating  ministers  being  l)rs.  James  Sewcll  and 
Noah  Levings,  with  the  Rev.  Daniel  P.  Kidder.  This 
enterprise  was  liberally  aided  by  some  of  the  Paterson 
brethren,  as  also  by  Mrs.  Catharine  Ibjlsman,  a  wealtliy 
member  of  our  C'hurch  residing  in  the  neighborhood. 
Active  in  all  the  work  of  the  church  was  Hiram  Blanch- 
ard,  who  also  found  fellow-helpers  in  the  Kingslands, 
Devausneys,  and  others. 

One  incident  will  serve  to  show  the  changes  in  feeling 
toward  Methodism  wliich  time  has  wrought  since  then. 
I  addressed  a  polite  m^te  to  Dominie  Jiogardus,  pastor 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  inviting  him  to  attend 
our  dedication,  whic  h  was  to  occur  on  a  week  day,  and 
requesting  liim  to  read  from  his  pulpit  an  inclosed  no- 
lice  of  the  services.  Did  he  come.'  If  he  did  no  one 
saw  him.  Did  he  read  tlie  notice  ?  If  he  did  no  one 
heard  it,  the  whole  thing  l)eing  treated  by  him  with 
silent  neglect  or — contempt.  How  marked  the  change 
since  then  in  that  Church  and  its  later  pastors! 

For  the  first  time  in  my  itinerant  life  I  here  enjoyed 
the  satisfaction  of  having  a  steady  boarding  ])lace,  which 
was  the  genial  home  of  Peregrine  Sandford,  P>scp,  after- 
ward Judge,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  ri\-er  in  Paterson. 
The  board  bill,  as  also  my  approjiriated  salary  of  one 
hundred  dollars,  was  promjjtly  paid  by  the  stewards. 
On  my  jirevious  two  circuits  I  was  like  tlie  country 
school-teachers  of  those  times  who  "boarded  around." 
Indeed,  I  seldom  slept  two  successive  nights  in  the  same 


108 


Sunset  Memories. 


bed,  and  received  as  salary  considerably  less  than  the 
small  disciplinary  allowance;  yet  I  was  happy  in  my  work 
and  felt  that  I  was^well  paid. 

DOVKR   AND    MiLI.nROOK,   1844,  1845. 

I  went  to  this  new  field  with  a  double  new  experience 
— that  of  an  ordained  deacon,  and  that  of  a  preacher  in 
charge,  the  first  ordination  of  our  clasS,  by  Bishop 
Waugh,  having  occurred  during  the  Conference  held  at 
Trenton,  Ajjril  17,  and  my  name  not  having  been  asso- 
ciated with  any  other  in  the  reading  of  the  aj)]3oint- 
ments,  as  formerly.  This  gave  to  me  a  sense  of  loneli- 
ness and  of  responsibility  such  as  I  had  not  realized 
before.  The  ])lan  was  to  i)reach  at  Dover  every  Sunday 
morning  and  evening,  and  at  Millbrook,  nearly  two  miles 
away,  in  the  afternoon. 

This  being  a  single  man's  apjiointmcnt,  the  preacher 
"must  needs  "  have  a  boarding  i)lace,  which  for  years 
had  been  the  quiet,  happy  home  of  "Uncle  David 
Sanford,"  his  motherly  wife  and  her  maiden  sister, 
"Aunt  Barbara,"  with  himself,  forming  the  family.  His 
well-kept  store,  containing  the  post  office,  was  a  favorite 
place  of  resort.  Until  a  short  time  before  that  home 
had  been  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  an  adopted 
daughter,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Sanford;  but,  "once  on  a 
time,"  a  certain  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  for 
New  Jersey  came  along  and  spirited  her  away — not 
in  any  evil  sense — and  Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Morrison 
became  Mrs.  Hiram  Mattison,  and  withal  the  step- 
mother of  his  four  motherless  children.  Theirs  was  a 
hap])y  married  life  for  more  than  twenty-seven  years, 
until  he  fell  a  victim  to  incessant  overwork  and  died, 
November  23,  1868,  at  no  greater  age  than  fifty-eight. 
Between  him  and  Dr.  Mendenhall,  late  Editor  of  the 
Mctlwdi$t  Eeview^  there  were  striking  similarities  of 


Chronological  Glimpses.  109 


constitution,  of  character,  and  of  tireless,  fatal  devotion 
to  work. 

I  extended  the  limits  of  the  charge  by  establishing  an 
appointment  at  Walnut  Grove,  now  Mount  Freedom,  our 
preaching  place  being  an  old  unoccupied  Baptist  churcli. 
Here  one  of  our  quarterly  meetings  for  the  year  was 
held  by  Dr.  John  S.  Porter,  the  presiding  elder.  Here 
also  I  found  and  visited  an  old  friend  of  our  family, 
formerly  of  Atlantic  County,  and  for  some  years  a  fellow 
local  preacher  with  my  father  on  the  old  Bargaintown 
Circuit,  then,  prosperous  in  business,  holding  a  good 
social  position,  and  very  useful  in  church  work.  Brother 
Absalom  Steelman.  Great  and  sad  changes  had  come 
to  him;  with  his  health  much  impaired  and  his  financial 
condition  utterly  broken,  he  seemed  but  little  like  his 
former  self  except  as  to  the  great  essential  fact  of  faith 
in  God  and  the  hope  of  heaven.  My  visiting  parish  was 
extended  still  farther  taking  in  Water  Street,  now  Brook- 
side,  where  I  found  Father  Clark,  an  old-time  Metho- 
dist preacher,  residing  with  his  son.  A  good  place  to 
visit. 

At  Millbrook  our  leading  man,  financially  and  so- 
cially, was  Brother  Ulysses  Kinsey;  but  devotionally 
the  most  demonstrative  one  was  Brother  Jacob  Searing, 
whose  public  prayers  were  distinguished  by  peculiar 
earnestness. 

In  November  a  new  boarding  place  was  assigned 
me  at  the  home  of  Brother  William  Ford,  where,  under 
the  kind  attentions  of  his  excellent  wife  and  daughters, 
I  was  well  cared  for.  This  change  was  soon  followed 
by  another,  involving  the  most  interesting  and  important 
social  event  of  my  young  manhood,  the  happy  consum- 
mation of  a  marriage  contract  with  Miss  Amelia  P. 
Moses,  daughter  of  Horatio  Moses,  Esq.,  of  Paterson. 
On  the  evening  of  December  9,  1844,  a  large  assembly 
8 


110 


Sunset  Memories. 


filled  the  Cross  Street  Churc  h  to  witness  the  marriage 
ceremony,  as  performed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  M(:(;arroll, 
the  sequel  of  whiclx  told  of  uncounted  jo\s  and,  thirty- 
nine  years  afterward,  of  the  one  great,  inexpressible  sor- 
row of  the  writer's  life. 

Madison,  1845-47. 

This  was  a  compact,  level  circuit,  comprising  Madi- 
son, Green  Village,  Whippany,  Chatham,  Ciieajjside  or 
Washington  Place,  with  occasional  j^reaching  at  White 
Oak  Ridge,  Hanover  Neck,  East  Madison,  and  l^ogans- 
ville.  Madison  and  Green  Village  had  eac  h  a  new 
church,  while  Wiiippany  and  Chatham  had  each  an 
older  one.  At  the  otlier  places  named  we  preached  in 
schoolhouses.  Until  the  dedication  of  the  Madison 
church,  early  in  1844,  the  preaching  jjlace  had  been  a 
room  in  the  umbrella  factory  of  Mr.  Henry  Keep.  The 
l)reac:lKTs  on  the  charge  when  tlie  church  was  built  were 
the  Revs.  T..  R.  Dunn  and  Israel  S.  Corbit. 

My  colleague  for  1845  was  ISrother  (iarner  R.  Snyder, 
a  thoroughly  conscientious  young  man,  a  strong  thinker, 
and  a  good,  though  not  captivating,  jireaciier.  My 
diary  contains  this  modest  review  of  that  year:  "The 
year  passed  away  very  jileasantly,  but  without  any  sig- 
nal success  of  our  labors;  "  which  is  supplemented  in  a 
later  record  by  the  statement,  "  The  year  was  a  good 
one."  Brother  Snyder  died  not  long  ago,  after  a  very 
pure  and  useful  life  in  the  ministry  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference. 

The  diary  continues:  "At  the  next  Conference,  held 
April  26,  1846,  I  was  returned  to  my  old  charge,  with 
Brother  Robert  S.  Harris  for  my  colleague.  This  year 
proved  to  be  one  of  decided  prosperity,  over  one  hun- 
dred souls  being  converted  and  added  to  the  Church. 
The  largest  number  of  conversions  took  place  at  Green 


Chronological  Glimpses.  Ill 


Village,  a  pleasant  society  before,  but  now  flourishing 
and  truly  delightful." 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  a  union  camp  meeting 
was  lielcl  at  Hanover  Neck  by  two  circuits,  Madison 
and  I'arsippany,  the  latter  having  for  its  intrepid 
preac  her  in  charge  the  Rev.  Edward  Sanders.  Was 
tlie  meeting  a  success?  No,  and  yes.  The  heavens  of 
cloud  and  rain  seemed  to  frown  upon  us,  but  the  Heaven 
of  heavens  propitiously  smiled.  Our  good  presiding 
elder,  the  Rev.  Daniel  I'arrish,  when  sjjoken  to  time  after 
time  about  the  weather,  would  give  back  the  cheerful, 
assuring  answer,  "'All's  right  that  comes  from  above." 
The  i>reacliing  was  "in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and 
of  ])ower, "  the  altar  and  tent  meetings  were  excellent, 
and  the  result  in  genuine  c()n\-ersi(jns  \'ery  blessed. 

That  justly  celebrated  cam[)  meeting  jireacher,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Da\  id  ^V.  Rartine,  could  never  before,  as  it 
seemed  to  us,  ha\e  excelled,  if  ei[ualed,  his  elo(]uent 
and  powerful  sermon  at  that  meeting"  on  "  The  Suffer- 
ings of  Christ  and  the  (Hory  that  should  Follow."  Its 
effect  can  be  better  imagined  by  those  who  may  have 
heard  him  on  other  favored  occasions  than  described 
by  nie.  That  from  the  soil  of  New  Jersey  there  should 
]ia\e  si)rung  that  distinguished  trio  of  extraordinary 
camp  meeting  ])reachers,  C.'harles  Pitman,  James  Ayars, 
and  Da\  id  W.  Rartine,  is  befitting  ground,  not  for  self- 
gratulation  l)y  any  "  to  tlie  manner  born,"  but  for  special 
gratitude  to  the  God  of  nature,  jirovidence,  and  grace, 
who  was  i)leased  to  put  this  signal  honor  ui)on  one  of 
the  smallest  of  the  many  States  of  this  great  Union. 
"Rut  thou,  Rethlehem  l^phratah,  though  thou  be  little 
among  the  tliousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee,"  etc. 

Following  that  meeting,  revivals  occurred  at  all  the 
principal  i)oints  on  the  charge — revivals  in  which  my 
colleag-ue,   Rrother   Harris,  proved  himself  eminently 


112 


Sunset  Memories. 


qualified  by  both  nature  and  grace  to  be  a  soul  winner. 
That  he  still  lives,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  New  Jer- 
sey Conference,  aftar  a  long,  active  ministry  of  great 
usefulness,  is  alike  gratifying  to  the  writer  and  to  all 
others  who  have  followed  his  successful  career  from  its 
beginning  or  for  a  shorter  period.  It  seems  proper 
to  add  that  the  great  revival  at  Green  Village,  of 
which  he  was  so  important  a  factor,  extended  to  what 
was  known  as  "  The  Swamp,"  as  also  to  Logansville, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  society  and  church  at 
Pleasant  Plains,  since  then  a  part  of  Basking  Ridge 
charge. 

Some  of  the  chief  lay  workers  in  that  revival  need 
also  to  be  named,  especially  Brothers  Ellis  Parcel  and 
Levi  iMuclimore,  the  former  of  whom  continued  to  live 
in  activity  and  usefulness  till  a  short  time  since.  That 
he  and  his  open-hearted,  o})en-handed  wife,  still  sur- 
viving, should  have  gi\'en  two  of  their  daughters  to 
young  preachers,  the  Revs.  Sylvester  N.  Bebout  and 
Jacob  E.  H.  Sentman,  then  live  on  a  goodly  number  of 
years  to  witness  the  true  domestic  hapjiiness  of  each 
and  the  well-earned  success  of  their  husbands,  is  a  mat- 
ter worthy  of  record  and  must  have  proved  to  both  of 
them  a  source  of  real  gratification  and  comfort.  Brother 
Muchmore,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Samuel  Roberts,  was  less 
favored  as  to  long  life,  he  having  died  years  ago,  leaving 
behind  him  the  wife  of  his  youth,  who  still  lives  to  cher- 
ish his  memory  in  old  age.  Other  families  and  friends 
can  receive  but  a  passing  mention  in  the  familiar 
names  of  Badgeley,  Cochran,  Lindsley,  Brookfield,  Be- 
dell, Moore,  Mesler,  Leonard,  Absalom,  etc. 

At  Whippany  our  cause  was  small  in  numbers  and 
ability;  but  warm  hearts  and  willing  hands  gave  encour- 
agement and  help.  The  number  of  converts  added  to 
our  probationers'  list  was  twenty-two.    Here  such  names 


Chronological  Glimpses.  113 


as  Norris,  Cooper,  Taylor,  McFarland,  Wildy,  Magee, 
etc.,  were  well-known. 

Two  of  our  best  homes  were  found  at  "  Father 
Swaim's  "  and  Mr.  Israel  Dickinson's,  Washington  Place. 
The  latter  was  a  warm  friend  and  supporter  of  the 
church,  his  wife  and  children  being  members  also. 
Here  hospitality  abounded.  The  writer,  from  leaving 
this  family  as  pastor  in  April,  1847,  was  called  in  April, 
1892,  to  officiate  at  the  funeral  of  the  widowed  mother, 
in  her  ninetieth  year.  What  a  life  was  that  which  she 
had  led — kind,  generous,  devoted,  useful!  Her  three 
daughters  and  the  husband  had  passed  on  before,  but 
her  two  noble  sons,  David  and  Bern,  were  left  and  yet 
remain  to  represent  and  illustrate  her  Christly  charac- 
ter. One  other,  bearing  the  stamp  of  the  same  character, 
a  venerable  sister  but  little  younger  than  herself,  whom 
loving  friends  delight  to  call  "  Aunt  Amanda,"  is  joyfully 
"brushing  the  dews  from  Jordan's  banks"  in  hope  of 
the  near  crossing  and  the  blissful  reunion  to  follow. 

Fatlier  Swaim  was  a  man  small  of  stature,  but  plucky, 
quiet,  conscientious,  persevering.  His  family  at  home 
consisted  of  himself,  his  gentle  wife,  and  his  only 
daughter,  whom  we  were  wont  to  call  "Sister  Abby." 
In  advanced  maidenhood  she  married  Mr.  Baldwin,  of 
Verona,  and  several  years  after  died  in  the  faith.  Father 
Swaim's  eldest  son,  John  Sanford,  had  become  one  of 
our  faithful  and  useful  ministers,  and  he  in  turn  gave  a 
son  to  the  ministry,  named  for  the  grandfather — Mat- 
thias. They  both  removed  to  Florida,  where  each  came 
to  a  peaceful  death.  Father  Swaim's  younger  son,  Ezra, 
died  in  middle  life,  his  widow,  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Cross,  still  surviving  to  rejoice  in  the  prosperity  of  their 
children,  the  only  son  being  a  successful  practicing 
physician,  Dr.  George  M.  Swaim,  of  Chatliam,  N.  J. 

Our  services  at  Washington  Place  were  held  every 


114 


Sunset  Memories. 


fortnight,  on  Friday  evening  in  tiie  sclioolhouse,  the 
families  named,  with  others,  attending  the  Sunday  serv- 
ices at  the  Chatham  church.  Some  years  before  his  death 
Father  Swaim  removed  from  tlie  old  liomestead  farm  to 
a  pleasant  house  quite  near  that  church,  where  his 
peaceful,  honored  life  was  lengthened  to  almost  a  hun- 
dred years. 

Another  interesting  suburb  of  Chatham  was  White 
Oak  Ridge,  to  which  a  few  )'ears  before  a  great  re\  ival 
in  the  village  had  extended  itself,  bringing  into  fellow- 
ship with  our  cliurch  several  imj^ortant  and  useful  fam- 
ilies, making  the  names  Denman,  Drew,  Ross,  and  others 
pleasantly  familiar.  It  is  especially  interesting  to  trace 
the  history  of  some  of  these.  In  ])assing  Sunday,  De- 
cember 2,  iSy4,  at  Springfield,  N.  J.,  to  assist  the  pastor, 
Brother  AVilliam  A.  Knox,  I  found  myself  agreeably 
(piartered  at  Scpiire  Mulford's,  whose  genial  wife  told  of 
having  known  me  in  her  childhood  when  I  was  pastor 
of  the  Drew  family,  to  which  she  belonged,  at  ^Vhite 
Oak  Ridge.    The  surprise  and  joy  were  mutual. 

In  the  Denman  family  there  were  four  sisters,  all  ac- 
tive young  members  of  the  church — Harriet,  Amanda, 
Carrie,  and  Hetty.  The  eldest  became  the  wife  of  Jo- 
sei)h  Cleveland,  Esq.,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  where  her 
useful  activity  in  the  church  continued,  even  with  in- 
crease, backed  by  larger  means  and  an  excellent  social 
])Osition.  For  )ears  she  has  been  li\  ing  in  widowhood, 
and  is  now  passing  a  cpiiet,  cheerful  eventide  of  life 
with  her  son  at  ]>ridgeport,  Conn. 

The  name  of  the  second  sister  was  carl)'  changed  to 
Ross  ;  and  after  several  years  of  hai)]))'  married  life  she 
passed  to  her  reward,  leaving  behind  an  only  daughter, 
who  in  process  of  time  became  the  youthful  wife  of  Mr. 
Isaac  S.  Crane,  of  AVest  Livingston,  N.  J.  The  third 
bister  has  been  for  many  years  the  cheerful,  devoted  wife 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


115 


of  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Biidd,  of  Elizabeth,  whose  sunny 
home  is  ever  wreathed  with  welcomes.  The  fourth  in 
our  list  combines  abounding  good  nature  with  unbounded 
energy  in  health  and  with  genuine  Christian  patience  in 
sickness.  She  has  been  content  to  remain  in  single  life, 
in  which  the  "  Friend  above  all  others  "  is  ever  cheering 
her  with  the  best  of  all  companionships. 

In  those  days  the  Chatham  church  was  very  dependent 
upon  its  suburban  supporters,  Methodism  having  up  to 
that  time  won  to  itself  but  few  in  tlie  village  as  mem- 
bers or  unfaltering  friends.  Among  these  few  must  be 
reckoned  General  Minton  and  his  energetic  wife,  he  not 
being  a  member,  but  a  warm  friend.  Her  death  occurred 
years  ago,  but  his  not  until  recently.  Here  we  also  had 
Brothers  Harvey  Bond,  AVilliam  Green,  and  a  small 
number  of  others  not  far  from  the  church  who  could 
render  spiritual  and  financial  help.  Some  very  familiar 
names  appear  on  the  old  probationers'  list  of  fifty  years 
ago. 

In  these  glimpses  we  group  Madison  and  East  Mad- 
ison. To  us  a  very  interesting  event  was  our  first  expe- 
rience in  housekeeping.  The  modest  hired  parsonage 
stood  on  what  is  now  called  Prospect  Street,  the  first 
dwelling  from  the  corner  of  Main  Street,  south  side.  It 
was  years  ago  removed.  There  we  had  some  choice  neigh- 
bors— Knapp,  Mills,  Sayre,  etc.  My  wife  became  very 
intimate  with  that  saintly  woman,  Mrs.  William  H.  Sayre, 
on  the  corner,  from  whom  she  received  many  helpful 
attentions.  Among  the  godly  women  of  the  church  was 
Sister  Ann  .\ndrews,  poor  in  purse,  but  "rich  in  faith." 
Precious  is  the  memory  of  Brother  O.  Bagshaw  and  his 
wife,  whose  devotion  to  goodness  and  the  church  was 
limited  only  by  their  ability.  Brother  Stephen  N.  Ward 
was  useful  all  around,  especially  as  leader  of  the  singing. 
It  was  fitting  that  one  of  the  Drew  graduates,  the  Rev. 


116 


Sunset  Memories. 


William  Redheffer,  should  capture  his  granddaughter  for 
a  wife.  Many  others  come  to  mind  :  Young,  Matthews, 
Muchmore,  Amzi  Ward,  Haslam,  Dennis,  Schenck, 
Squier,  Larue,  Shawger,  Losey.  Good  friends  were  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Keep,  with  their  young  daughters,  Carrie 
and  Camilla,  and  the  aunt,  Mrs.  King.  It  is  gratify- 
ing to  be  assured  by  the  present  faithful  treasurer  of 
the  church,  Mr.  Charles  L.  Chovey,  then  a  boy,  that  he 
has  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the  writer  and  his  col- 
leagues. 

Methodist  preaching  in  the  schoolhouse  at  East  Mad- 
ison antedated  by  several  years  all  public  service  by  our 
ministers  at  Madison,  the  result  being  that  for  many 
years  the  mother  society  at  East  Madison  quite  exceeded 
in  the  number  of  families  and  in  financial  strength  the 
later-organized  society  at  Madison.  Coming  here  in 
the  spring  of  1845,  we  found  in  the  former  neighborhood 
the  Hancocks,  the  Tunises,  Budds,  Genungs,  Hedges,  etc. 

"  Father  "  Hancock,  as  we  called  him,  was  a  rare  char- 
acter— intensely  conscientious,  unswerving  in  his  prin- 
ciples, fixed  in  his  manners  and  habit.s,  and  very  much 
given  to  prayer.  Family  worship  at  each  meal  was  as 
regular  as  the  clock  that  stood  in  the  corner.  In  mak- 
ing calls  at  the  parsonage  he  would  always  say  before 
leaving,  "  Brother  Vansant,  shall  we  have  a  word  of 
prayer.?  "  and  then  add,  "  There  is  always  time  to  pray." 
He  began  the  work  of  preaching  long  before  I  knew 
him,  and  continued  it  until  his  strength  failed  him. 
Sometimes  in  very  warm  weather  he  would  say,  stand- 
ing in  the  pulpit,  "  Comfort  before  fashion,"  and,  taking 
off  his  coat,  would  preach  in  his  shirt  sleeves.  He  was 
a  prolific  rhymer,  displaying  no  little  ingenuity,  and 
sometimes  true  poetic  genius. 

His  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  I  knew  them,  were 
imitators  of  the  virtues  of  tlie  parents.    The  elder  of  the 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


117 


sons,  John  Wesley,  became  an  ordained  local  preacher, 
and  in  his  later  years  was  known  as  "Judge  "  Hancock. 
He  was  a  devout,  intelligent,  true  man,  fully  worthy  of 
being  the  father  of  the  Rev.  John  E.  Hancock,  of  the 
Newark  Conference,  of  Mrs.  Daniel  F.  Hallock,  of  the 
New  York  East  Conference,  of  another  daughter  promi- 
nent as  a  teacher  in  the  city  of  Newark,  X.  J.,  and 
of  another  son,  intelligent,  respected,  and  useful  as  a 
layman  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Madison, 
N.  J.  Father  Hancock's  younger  son,  Monroe,  was  a 
man  of  sterling  qualities,  a  consistent  Christian,  honored, 
trusted,  beloved.  During  several  years  prior  to  his  death 
he  was  wholly  disabled  from  active  duty  by  shaking 
paralysis.  His  esteemed  widow  still  lives  in  a  green  old 
age  verging  on  fourscore  years,  the  only  adult  member 
of  this  entire  notable  family,  as  I  first  knew  it,  who  is 
yet  surviving. 

Two  other  reliable  and  helpful  families  in  this  neigh- 
borhood were  those  of  the  Tunis  brothers,  Charles 
and  W.  Whitfield — the  one  a  blacksmith,  the  other  a 
farmer.  Faithful  in  their  attendance  and  regular  in  their 
contributions,  the  church  could  always  depend  upon 
them  for  needed  cooperation.  The  elder  brother's  death 
about  thirty  years  ago,  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  man- 
hood, created  a  sad  vacancy,  which  has  been  followed 
by  the  wife's  more  recent  departure,  leaving  two  daugh- 
ters and  a  son  to  honor  the  name,  the  latter  till  recently 
an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  borough  council  of 
Madison.  The  quiet,  industrious,  exemplary  life  of  the 
younger  brother  was  prolonged  to  his  eightieth  year, 
ending  in  a  peaceful  death  April  22,  1894.  To  him  and 
his  faithful  wife,  who  died  in  1879,  were  born  three  sons 
and  si.\  daughters,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living  as 
worthy  representatives  of  the  dead,  yet  speaking,  parents. 
Their  unvarying  htibit  of  family  worsliip  morning  and 


118 


Sunset  Memories. 


evening  of  each  day,  combined  w  ith  right  living,  left  a  deep 
impress  for  good  upon  the  whole  family.  The  eldest 
son,  Captain  Edwa^rd  C.  Tunis,  died  suddenly  in  Jan- 
uary, 1893,  leaving  behind  an  honorable  record  as  a 
soldier  and  officer  in  the  Union  army,  postmaster  at 
Madison,  N.  J.,  under  the  Arthur  administration,  etc. 

In  the  list  of  twenty-six  probationers  for  1846  repre- 
senting the  two  Madisons  appears  the  name  of  Melissa 
W.  Budd,  behind  which  stands  an  interesting  item  of 
unwritten  history.  In  early  girlhood  she  lived  with  her 
maternal  grandmother  Ward,  who  was  a  staunch  Presby- 
terian, with  the  very  strong  prejudices  against  Metho- 
dism so  common  in  tliose  times.  But  her  father,  Vincent 
B.  Budd,  was  among  "the  true  and  the  tried"  of  our 
brethren;  and  the  daughter,  having  become  a  happy 
convert  among  us,  very  naturally  desired  to  unite  with 
the  father's  Church.-  For  a  time  the  opposition  to  this 
was  vigorous  and  persistent,  but  at  length  her  own 
prayerful  and  consistent  choice  prevailed.  To  tell  the 
whole  sequel  would  require  many  words,  but  only  few 
can  be  used.  She  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Henry 
W.  Pierson,  who,  with  herself,  held  useful  membership  in 
the  Madison  church  for  a  considerable  time,  and  then 
took  their  letters  to  the  Chatham  church,  in  which  for 
years  he  has  been  a  leading  officer,  and  she  among  the 
most  active,  influential,  and  best-loved  of  its  sister- 
hood. 

These  glim])ses  of  Madison  must  close  with  this  ex- 
tract from  my  diary:  "I  would  here  record,  especially, 
the  extreme  kindness  of  my  friend  and  brother,  Isaac 
Faulks,  and  his  good  lady,  with  whom  my  wife  remained 
during  my  absence  at  Conference  and  for  some  time 
afterward.  Their  unwearied  attention  to  her  during  a 
sickness  of  several  weeks  calls  forth  my  warmest  grati- 
tude.    May  heaven  abundantly  reward  them!" 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


119 


Bloomfiei.d,  1847-49. 

Bloomfield,  in  the  Minutes,  then  meant  West  Bloom- 
field,  now  Montclair,  and  the  old  stone  church  in  Morris 
neighborhood,  with  Spdertown  as  a  schoolhouse  ap- 
pointment. The  church  at  Bloomfield  proper  was  quite 
an  after  consideration.  The  stated  Sunday  work  con- 
sisted of  preaching  three  times  and  walking  three  miles, 
with  frequent  leading  of  a  class. 

Among  our  principal  families  were  Crane,  Doremus, 
Taylor,  Sandford,  Wilde,  Pierson,  Coit,  Bai  ton,  Cockefair, 
Rusby,  Marr,  Reford.  The  Rev.  John  N.  Crane,  of  pre- 
cious memory,  had  gone  forth  from  the  excellent  home  of 
his  father,  Josiah  Crane,  to  enter  the  itinerancy;  and  even 
greater  honor  came  to  "  Father"  Coit  and  his  devoted  wife 
in  the  call  of  two  of  their  sons  to  thesame  work.  Years 
since  the  Rev.  John  S.  Coit  finished  his  course,  leaving 
to  the  Church  and  the  community  a  family  of  rare  merit; 
while  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Coit  still  lives  in  a  vigorous, 
happy,  and  useful  old  age.  And  the  honor  seems  suc- 
cessive, for  the  only  son  of  the  latter,  the  Rev.  Olin  B. 
Coit,  occupies  an  honorable  position  in  the  active  min- 
isterial ranks. 

The  youngest  and  one  of  the  most  earnest  members 
of  our  official  board  was  Brother  John  Rusby.  He  had 
always  found  himself  too  busy  to  give  attention  to  the 
subject  of  marriage  ;  but,  having  now  concluded  that  he 
must  seek  a  wife,  he  made  a  quiet  confidant  of  his  pastor, 
telling  me  freely  what  was  in  his  thought  and  seeking 
some  needed  help.  Among  our  lady  members  was  one 
whom  we  familiarly  called  "  Sister  Abbie,"  a  super- 
excellent  girl,  who,  all  unconsciously,  had  been  made  an 
object  of  furtive  glances  by  the  only  young  man  in  the 
congregation  who  was  worthy  of  her  love.  What  he 
wanted  to  be  certain  of  was  that  no  one  had  entered  the 


120 


Sunset  Memories. 


race  before  him,  and  lie  detailed  me  to  ascertain 
the  situation,  which  very  soon  after  I  delicately  did 
through  her  sister,  one  of  our  best  members,  with 
wiiom  she  made  her  home.  My  report  was  very  sat- 
isfactory, and  was  followed  by  a  correspondence  and 
occasional  interviews  (for  many  of  the  latter  he  was 
too  busy),  which  resulted  in  an  early  engagement  and 
a  short  courtship,  crowned  by  a  marriage  of  eminent 
and  long-continued  felicity.  Well  nigh  a  half  century 
has  passed  since  Miss  Abbie  Holmes  became  Mrs. 
John  Rusby.  Many  children  have  come  to  that  home, 
among  them  a  son  whose  name  stands  in  the  list  of 
honored  members  of  the  Newark  Conference,  Samuel 
O.  Rusby. 

Our  nearest  neighbor  at  the  left  was  a  venerable 
local  preacher,  the  Rev.  John  Lee,  intelligent  and  tal- 
ented. He  loved  to  preach,  and  his  sermons  were 
quite  above  the  average.  Opposite  the  parsonage  was 
another  family  with  which  we  were  drawn  into  close 
relations.  The  wife  and  mother,  Mrs.  Littell,  though 
belonging  to  another  Church,  acted  the  part  of  a  true 
sister  or  motlier  toward  my  wife,  who  was  much  her 
junior. 

The  one  event  of  chief  personal  interest  to  us  during 
our  residence  here  was  the  advent  of  our  firstborn  living 
child,  whom  we  named  Fannie,  in  honor  of  Miss  Fannie 
McElwee,  of  Paterson,  an  intimate  friend  of  the  mother 
and  one  of  the  two  young  ladies  who  had  officiated  as 
bridesmaids  at  her  marriage.  She  has  quite  outlived 
both  the  mother  and  the  child,  and,  though  much 
afflicted,  she  is  waiting  in  cheerful  patience  and  hope 
until  her  change  shall  come.  Her  associate  brides- 
maid, Miss  Jane  Smylie,  berame  Mrs.  C.  T.  Vander- 
voort,  and  after  a  brief  married  life  passed  to  her  heav- 
enly rest. 


Chronological  Glimpses.  121 


WooDROW,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  1849-51. 

This  was  a  new  charge,  one  pastor  having  previously 
been  preacher  in  charge  at  both  A\'oodrow  and  Bethel 
Churches;  now  they  were  separated  and  a  pastor  ap- 
pointed to  each.  The  support  of  two  preachers,  instead 
of  one,  as  formerly,  was  looked  upon  as  a  serious  experi- 
ment; but  the  new  arrangement  worked  surpassingly 
well,  each  pastor — the  Rev.  Mulford  Day  at  Bethel,  and 
myself  at  Woodrow — receiving  an  ample  support.  In- 
deed, although  my  annual  appro[)riation  was  only  three 
hundred  dollars  and  a  visit,  I  left  the  charge  with  more 
clear  money  in  my  pocket  than  ever  before  ur  ever  since, 
with  a  possible  exception  or  two.  The  secret  was  that 
\  ery  much  of  our  li\  ing  was  supplied  by  the  generous 
gifts  of  tlie  people,  reducing  our  table  exijenses,  horse 
keeping,  etc.,  well-nigh  to  a  minimum  of  cost  to  us. 

Besides  the  regular  i)reaciiing  services  at  AN  oodrow 
Church  every  Sunday  morning  and  afternoon  or  even- 
ing, I  made  appointments  at  l>louming\  ie\v,  now  Hugue- 
not, Newtown,  now  Clifford's,  and  Androvett's,  now 
Kreischerville,  where  we  had  a  flourishing  class.  At 
Bloomingview  we  also  had  a  good  class,  Mhich  met 
at  Mother  Cole's,  widow  of  the  Rev.  "William  Cole,  a 
widely  known  and  very  useful  ordained  local  preacher. 
The  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Cole,  a  widow,  and 
Miss  Jane  Cole,  who  years  afterward  became  the  wife 
of  the  Rev.  William  M.  Sandford,  of  Belleville,  N.  J.,  lived 
in  the  old  homestead  with  the  aged  mother.  O  how 
many  were  the  delightful  visits  which  we  enjoyed  in 
that  consecrated  home!  It  became  needful  to  appoint 
a  new  leader  for  this  class.  Who  should  be  selected.' 
My  thoughts  turned  toward  one  of  our  younger  men, 
but  he  most  earnestly  begged  to  be  excused.  Feeling 
assured,  however,  of  his  integrity,  intelligence,  and  fit- 


122 


Sunset  Memories. 


ness  all  around,  I  i)rci)arcd  a  new  class  book,  entering 
the  name  of  James  Ivldy  as  leader.  He  has  since  been 
living  all  through  tlje  years  a  trusted  and  useful  officer 
of  Woodrow  Church,  a  worthy  brother  of  Samuel  Eddy, 
Esq.,  of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  so  well-known  in  religious, 
social,  and  business  circles. 

Newtown  was  rendered  a  point  of  special  interest  by 
the  residence  of  Father  Boehm  very  near  the  school- 
house  where,  every  two  weeks,  our  services  were  held  on 
Sunday  afternoon.  His  family  was  four  in  number — 
himself  and  cheery  wife.  Aunty  Boehm,  with  two  of  the 
daughters.  Misses  Lizzie  and  Sarah,  who  had  given  to 
their  cozy  home  the  poetic  title  of  "  Sweetbriar  Cot- 
tage." Here  ready  and  entertaining  conversation  never 
languished,  a  strong  social  element  being  always  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  place.  The  youngest  daugh- 
ter, Miss  Mary,  had  just  been  captured  for  wifehood  by 
the  Rev.  Amos  N.  Mulnix,  of  the  New  York  Ccjiifer- 
ence — a  happy  marriage,  resulting,  among  many  other 
good  things,  in  giving  to  the  ('hurch  anotlier  minister, 
the  Rev.  Henry  Boehm  Molyneaux  (Mulnix).  Sarah 
in  course  of  time  became  Mrs.  ^\'ood,  and  afterward 
Mrs.  David  Teed.  Removing  to  the  West,  one  of 
her  daughters  became  the  wife  of  one  of  our  ministers 
there.  Lizzie,  Father  Boehm's  eldest  daughter,  was 
well-known  for  several  years  as  Mrs.  Emley,  she  and 
her  gentlemanly  husband  fre(iuently  ministering  to  her 
father's  comfort  in  his  very  old  age.  Father  Boehm 
had  one  son,  Henry  ALartin,  who  died  before  reaching 
middle  life,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  daughter.  He  was 
at  the  head  of  a  select  school  for  boys  at  Fresh  Kill, 
now  Green  Ridge.  His  cai)abilities  were  of  a  high 
order.  By  no  other  man  have  I  ever  heard  the  Declara- 
tion of  American  Lidependence  read  so  grandly  as  once 
by  him.    It  was  at  the  home  of  his  widow  that  our  ven- 


Chronological  Glimpses.  123 


erated  centenarian  breathed  his  last  December  28, 
1875- 

South  of  Father  Boehm's,  near  Great  Kills  and  over- 
looking Sandy  Hook  Bay,  was  another  delightful  visit- 
ing place,  Captain  Abram  Cole's.  He  was  an  invalid, 
shut  out  from  all  business  and  shut  within  the  precincts 
of  his  own  quiet  home.  Here  the  pastor,  with  his 
family,  was  always  made  welcome  by  the  generous  host 
and  hostess.  Years  after  the  parents  had  passed  away 
a  call  at  the  old  place  by  the  writer  and  his  sons  on  a 
little  yachting  expedition  was  met  with  the  old  warmth 
of  welcome  from  the  son  residing  there.  It  was  far 
more  than  a  social  pleasure,  it  was  a  true  spiritual  com- 
fort, to  learn  that  Cornelius  Cole  was  a  Christian  and 
active  in  church  work,  though  in  another  communion. 

Pleasant  Plains  was  then  a  part  of  Woodrow  charge 
and  had  a  good  vigorous  class,  of  which  Brother  Israel 
Laforge  was  leader,  assisted  by  Brother  J.  K.  Avis. 
That  was  the  nucleus  of  a  church  and  of  a  separate 
charge,  which  became  verities  but  a  few  years  after- 
ward; since  which  time  that  good,  compact  society  has 
been  giving  a  comfortable  sup[)ort  to  successive  pastors 
and  making  a  creditable  record  of  usefulness  in  church 
work  generally. 

At  Androvett's  great  changes  afterward  came.  A 
chapel  was  built  and  for  a  time  profitably  used;  but  at 
length  Methodism  in  organized  form  was  completely 
crowded  out  by  the  foreign  element  which  settled  about 
the  brick  factories  at  Kreischerville. 

Rossville  was  not  then  a  preaching  place,  though  it 
was  the  chief  village  within  the  bounds  of  the  charge, 
located  on  the  Staten  Island  Sound  near  the  principal 
steamboat  landing,  and  the  post  office  center  of  quite 
an  extensive  population.  Here  we  had  a  class  of  which 
Brother  Mark  Winant  was  the  leader,  at  whose  house 


124 


Sunset  Memories. 


the  meetings  were  held.  He  gave  one  of  his  daughters 
in  marriage  to  Mr.  Reed  Benedict,  who  since  then  has 
become  prominent  in  business  and  a  chief  supporter  of 
Grace  Church  at  Port  Richmond,  Staten  Island.  Most 
of  the  family  removed  to  California.  My  first  arrival  at 
Rossville  was  marked  by  a  unique  event.  A  young 
man  who  had  died  elsewhere  was  to  be  brought  here 
for  burial  from  St.  Luke's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
the  mother  being  a  member  of  that  communion.  But 
St.  Luke's  was  without  a  rector,  and  I  was  the  only 
minister  within  reach  ;  so  I  was  invited  by  those  in 
charge  of  the  church  to  officiate,  which  I  did,  having 
the  full  freedom  of  chancel,  reading  desk,  and  pulpit. 
The  first  entry  in  my  memorandum  book  for  that  charge 
was  this:  "  May  3,  1849.  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Jackson's 
son.    Job  xvi,  22." 

My  pastorate  here  was  rendered  memorable  by  a  two- 
fold enterprise — the  payment  of  the  church  debt  of 
about  $1,200,  and  the  building  of  a  new  parsonage. 
The  subscriptions  toward  the  debt,  as  my  book  shows, 
stand  in  connection  with  one  hundred  names  less  three, 
the  sums  ranging  from  twenty-five  dollars  down  to 
twenty-five  cents.  This,  of  course,  means  work  in  both 
soliciting  and  collecting  the  subscriptions;  but  it  was 
work  involving  far  less  of  wear  and  tear  of  body,  mind, 
and  conscience  than  the  holding  of  fairs,  festivals,  etc., 
would  have  necessitated.  Lideed,  these  things  had  not 
in  those  days  become  at  all  fashionable  in  Methodist 
circles,  so  that  an  attempt  to  raise  money  for  the  Lord's 
cause  by  such  means  would  have  greatly  shocked,  not 
to  say  paralyzed,  the  average  Methodist  church.  The 
change  since  then  is  marked,  even  marvelous;  who 
shall  say  it  is  for  the  better.?  To  the  writer,  at  least,  it 
is  a  real  satisfaction  to  look  back  and  remember  that 
by  means  of  plain,  honest,  loving  appeals,  followed  by 


Chronological  Glimpses.  125 


the  direct  payment  of  hard  cash,  we  freed  the  Lord's 
house  from  the  incubus  of  a  troublesome  debt  without 
resorting  to  doubtful  expedients. 

Woodrow  had  had  a  church  for  more  than  sixty  years, 
but  had  never  owned  a  parsonage.  Now  the  need  of 
one  was  sorely  felt,  especially  as  the  renting  of  a  suitable 
house  was  found  to  be  impracticable.  The  two  occupied 
by  us  during  our  time  there  were  quite  below  the  grade 
of  suitableness,  but  were  the  best  that  could  be  obtained 
under  the  circumstances.  So,  with  the  church  debt 
provided  for,  vigorous  steps  were  taken  toward  the  erec- 
tion of  a  parsonage,  the  land  for  which,  adjoining  the 
church  lot,  was  surveyed  January  6,  1851.  Mysuccessor 
in  the  following  April  was  the  Rev.  Wesley  Robertson, 
who  was  the  first  to  occupy  the  new  building,  which 
after  a  few  years  was  enlarged  to  its  present  size. 

Under  date  of  March  17  my  diary  contains  this  entry: 
"Twenty-three  have  joined  as  the  fruit  of  our  late  extra 
effort,  and  others  will.  Our  net  increase  for  the  two 
years  will  be  about  forty."  Woodrow  Church  at  that 
time  had  an  extensive  parish,  embracing  a  considerable 
number  of  strong  men  and  interesting,  influential  fam- 
ilies. Among  the  young  men  no  one,  perhaps,  was  more 
worthy  of  special  mention  for  nobleness  of  spirit,  warmth 
of  friendship,  and  open-handed  generosity  than  Brother 
I.  Washington  Cole;  and  no  lady  proved  herself  more 
thoughtfully  appreciative  than  did  Mrs.  Moore  in  her 
recognition  of  the  services  at  Newtown,  though  she  be- 
longed to  another  Church — the  special  form  of  recogni- 
tion being  a  set  of  silver  spoons  bearing  the  inscription 
"  N.  v.,"  a  gift  as  useful  as  it  was  beautiful. 

Belleville,  N.  J.,  185 1,  1852. 
In   Methodist  annals  this  was  old  historic  ground. 
Some  years  before  the  planting  of  Methodism  in  Newark 
9 


126 


Sunset  Memories. 


it  had  taken  root  in  Ik'ileville,  whence  it  spread  to  New- 
ark and  otlier  adjacent  localities.  Prominent  in  its  early 
history  was  the  Rev.  John  Dow,  who,  with  his  large 
family,  held  a  connnantling  inlluence.  1  found  there  a 
plain,  substantial  church  edifice,  built  of  brick  and  dedi- 
cated a  few  )e:ns  before  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Pitman, 
his  sermon,  as  1  remember,  being  fountled  on  Isaiah 
.\.\v,  y.  'I'he  mcmbershii)  \\  as  neither  \-ery  large  nor 
remarkably  harmonious.  The  following  names  repre- 
sent the  chief  members  and  families  of  the  church: 
lirower,  Williams,  Sandford,  C.'oUard,  Molmes,  ^Vhitefleld, 
Pennett,  Osborn,  Coeyman,  Pyle,  Nuttall,  Ackerman, 
'Pice,  Kinney,  Crissey,  Cole,  Negles,  King. 

On  the  op[)osite  side  of  the  Passaic  River,  near  the 
present  borough  of  Arlington,  was  the  inviting  home  of 
Mrs.  Condict,  a  lady  of  wealth  wlio  held  membership 
in  another  communion;  but  her  great  desire  to  be  useful 
led  her  to  fit  u])  a  room  in  her  commodious  house  for 
Sunday  school  purposes.  'I'he  result  was  a  well-attended, 
orderly  school,  under  the  wise  and  efficient  superintend- 
ence of  Brother  Hugh  Holmes.  In  this  neighborhood 
lived  our  faithful  milkman,  Mr.  Ab)rgan,  from  whom  and 
whose  family  came  generous  support  to  the  church; 
and  here  occasional  ])reaching  services  during  the  week 
were  arranged  for. 

Jhit  our  chief  week-night  ap[)ointment  was  Mont- 
gomery, l)ing  west  of  Pielleville  on  the  way  to  Jiloom- 
field.  Here  we  preaclied  every  other  P'riday  e\'ening 
to  a  fair-sized  (-ongicgatidn;  and  here  were  the  \'rce- 
land,  lilamey,  ( 'ris]),  \\'inne,  l<"urlong,  and  other  families. 

'I'he  longest  wacation  of  m\'  ininistr\'  occurieil  in  the 
summer  of  this  year.  It  was  |)lanned  by  my  wife's 
noble,  generous-hearted  uncle,  Mr.  Porcnzo  Moses,  of 
New  York,  a  staunch  Presbyterian,  but  with  a  warm 
side  toward  all  good  people.    Our  party  was  to  consist 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


127 


of  his  <iOod  w  ile,  w  hom  we  al\va\  s  enjoyed  calliiiL;  "Atuit 
Eli/a,"  togetlier  with  my  wife  and  myself,  the  uncle 
makinij;  nic  treasurer  of  the  funds  which  he  deemed 
needful  for  our  tri|). 

So  on  llie  niorninu;  of  July  15  we  took  train  at  Pater- 
son,  or.  the  New  \'ork  antl  Krie  Railway,  f^)r  Jiuffalo, 
rid  Dunkirk,  which  meant  a  steand)oat  ride  of  forty 
miles  on  Lake  ICrie,  mostly  Iiefore  dayliglit  the  next 
morning;;  for  then  there  were  no  trains  runnin<,r  direct  to 
lUiffalo.  Our  objective  point  was  1  ,()ck|iort,  thirty-one 
miles  farther  on.  Hut  how  could  we  reai  h  it  ?  ()nl\'  liy 
canal  packet,  ipiile  a  new  mode  of  traxel  to  us.  .\t 
10  .V.  M.  we  cmi)arked,  and  reached  our  destination  at 
4  1'.  M.,  after  a  reall\-  enjox  ahlc  trip,  folioweil  h}'  one  of 
the  warmest  of  welcomes  from  Mr.  Marcus  Moses,  who 
took  us  at  once  to  Ids  pleasant  home,  where  a  week's 
enterlainnient  of  the  best  type  awaited  us.  lie  was  a 
cousin  to  m_\-  father-in-law  and  to  the  iin(  le  spoken  of 
'When  Sunda}'  morniuL^'  came  1  preachetl  b)'  previous 
invitation  to  a  larL;e  congregation  for  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kingsley,  pastor  of  the  ^Methodist  Kinscopal  church, 
who  also  insisted  on  m\'  preac  hing  in  the  afternoon 
and  so  announced  to  his  jieople.  Besides  doing  this, 
1  attended  serv  ice  in  the  ]",[)i>(  i ipal  churcdi  at  2:30  v.  .m., 
and  at  night  heard  the  Rev.  ?\Ir.  \\'isner,  Presbyterian, 
])rea(;li  in  his  large  c:hur(di,  where  I  was  in\  ited  to  (jffer 
the  opening  prayer.    'Phus  I  had  a  \  er\-  busy  day. 

What  would  visiting  strangers  at  l.oc  k|)ort  now  think 
of  being  obliged  to  reach  Niagara  f  alls,  twenty-two 
miles  distant,  by  horses  and  carriage  as  the  oidy  mode 
of  (  ()n\e\  ance?  A  connecting  railroad  came  later.  .My 
diary  shows  how  we  passed  Monda\',  July  21:  "Set  off 
at  7  A.  M.  for  Niagara  Falls,  arriving  about  11.  S])ent 
considerable  time  on  Goat  Island,  jiassing  cpiite  around 
it  in  our  carriage.    After  dinner  crossed  by  suspension 


128 


Sunset  Memories. 


bridge  to  Canada  side,  viewed  falls,  rode  down  to  whirl- 
pool, thence  to  Brock's  monument  and  Queenstown, 
where  crossed  anqther  suspension  bridge  to  the  States, 
rode  down  to  Youngstown,  thence  to  Fort  Niagara, 
through  which  we  were  shown  by  one  of  the  officers,  and 
thence  returned  to  Lockport,  arriving  about  ii  p.  m." 

After  two  more  days  added  to  our  delightful  visit 
here,  we  left  by  packet  for  Rochester,  accompanied  by 
"  Cousin  Nancy  "  and  daughter,  to  visit  other  cousins 
in  that  city— Dr.  Moses,  Councilman  Schuyler  Moses, 
Mr.  Dunn  and  wife,  etc.  Saturday  afternoon  I  received 
a  call  from  three  of  the  Methodist  ])astors — the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Copeland,  Alden,  and  another  whose  name  has 
escaped  me — each  of  whom  made  request  for  help  in 
his  pulpit  on  the  next  day.  I  found  Brother  Copeland's 
cliurch,  known  as  "the  chapel,"  a  very  large  building, 
with  a  good  congregation,  to  whicli  I  preached  at  10:30 
A.  M.,  though  with  great  difficulty,  being  very  hoarse.  In 
the  afternoon  I  preached  for  the  brother  whose  name 
I  have  forgotten  over  a  store  in  North  Street,  and  at 
night  for  Brother  Alden  in  a  new  church  west  of  the 
canal.  On  Monday  came  a  i)ackct  excursion  of  thirty- 
seven  miles  to  Mount  Morris  to  visit  still  other  cousins. 

The  next  day  a  carriage  ride  of  fourteen  miles  took 
us  to  Portage,  to  see  the  falls  with  their  wonderful 
scenery,  and  to  visit  other  friends.  Returning  to  Mount 
Morris,  we  took  packet  toward  evening  on  our  return 
trip  to  Rochester,  where  the  next  morning  we  boarded  a 
train  for  New  York,  with  many  sweet  recollections  of  the 
places  and  friends  visited  and  the  new  acquaintances 
formed.  Saturday,  August  2,  found  us  snugly  fixed 
again  in  the  ])arsonage  at  Belleville,  after  a  twenty  days' 
vacation  packed  all  full  of  marvelous  sightseeing,  social 
enjoyment,  and  Christian  work. 

The  most  blessed  event  of  this  Conference  year  was 


Chronological  Glimpses.  129 


the  glorious  revival  that  came  to  us,  in  which,  according 
to  my  recollection,  fifty  or  more,  mostly  young  persons, 
professed  conversion.  Many  of  our  meetings  were  of 
intense  interest  and  of  great  power.  Under  date  of 
Sunday,  April  4,  1852,  I  wrote:  "Memorable  Sabbath! 
Preached  from  Prov.  iv,  18,  'The  path  of  the  just,' etc., 
after  which  I  baptized  eight  of  the  converts  and  admin- 
istered the  Lord's  Sapper.  In  the  afternoon  attended 
Sunday  school  prayer  meeting,  at  close  of  which  the 
converts  presented  me  a  large  and  beautiful  Bible." 
That  venerated  book  was  adopted  as  our  chief  family 
Bible,  in  which  the  family  record  has  been  kept  from 
that  time  to  the  present.  It  bears  upon  its  front  cover 
this  affectionate  inscription:  "  Presented  to  Rev.  Nicholas 
Vansant  by  the  converts  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  Belleville, 
N.  J."  Seldom,  if  ever,  have  I  seen  a  more  happy  or 
more  united  company  of  young  converts  than  were  they; 
but  a  sorrowful  surprise  awaited  both  them  and  their  pas- 
tor in  the  near  future,  as  will  be  shown  by  what  follows. 

New  Brunswick,  1852-54. 

"  The  providence  of  God  moves  in  mazes  intricate, 

Eccentric,  intervolved;  yet  regular 

The  most,  when  most  irregular  they  seem." 

A  Sturdy  Christian  faith  is  bound  to  accept  this  as 
true,  since  it  accords  so  fully  with  the  inspired  declara- 
tion of  the  psalmist:  "  Clouds  and  darkness  are  round 
about  him:  righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habita- 
tion of  his  throne."  The  clouds  and  darkness  are  ap- 
parent, being  objects  of  sense  or  of  reason  ;  but  the 
righteousness  and  judgment  so  often  ob.scured  by  these 
clouds  and  darkness  can  be  perceived  only  by  a  faith 
keen  enough  and  strong  enough  to  penetrate  them  and 
to  read  unswerving  rectitude  in  God's  eternal  throne. 
Such  a  faith  was  needed  by  the  churcli  at  Belleville,  and 


130 


Sunset  Memories. 


especially  by  its  new  converts,  in  the  si)iing  of  1852, 
under  the  strangely  sudden  removal  of  their  pastor. 

He  went  to  Conference  "  with  gladness  and  singleness 
of  heart,"  bearing  a  gootl  report  of  success  under  the 
divine  blessing,  and  without  a  thought  of  possible  dis- 
turbance by  any  other  church  or  by  ])residing  elder  or 
bishop.  Alas,  for  all  his  pleasant  dreams  of  another 
happy  and  prosperous  year  in  the  old  charge!  An 
official  of  the  Liberty  Street  Church,  New  ]5runswick, 
introducing  himself,  said  to  me, 

"I  am  here  with  authority  from  our  official  board  to 
ask  the  bishoj)  to  appoint  you  to  us  as  our  pastor." 

"O  no,"  said  I,  "you  are  mistaken;  it  is  my  brother 
Samuel  you  mean." 

"No,  it  is  you,  Nicholas  Vansant,  whom  we  want,"  was 
his  quick  res]jonse. 

"  ]!ut  I  have  been  at  Belleville  only  one  year,"  I  said, 
"and  I  ought  to  stay  there  another,  especially  to  take 
care  of  the  converts  which  a  recent  revival  has  brought 
to  us." 

"()  yes,"  he  rejjlied,  "we  understand  all  that,  but  you 
are  needed  at  our  church,  and  we  have  agreed  unani- 
mously to  rcipiest  \-our  ai>])ointment." 

The  reader  may  infer  the  outcome  ;  for  it  was  a  case 
of  a  stronger  church  against  a  weaker,  and  whoever 
knew  the  old  maxim  that  "might  makes  right"  to  fail 
even  in  church  administration  ?— a  maxim  musty  with 
age,  but  not  effete  in  vigor.  The  quite  too  rare  excep- 
tions are  jjcculiarly  refreshing. 

My  old  charge  fell  bereft  and  the  converts  wejit  like 
children.  At  a  meeting  promptly  called  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  wait  on  Bisho])  Janes  and  secure,  if 
possible,  a  reversal  of  his  action.  It  was  understood 
that  he  was  at  iiis  country  home  near  Bernardsville,  and 
the  committee  set  out  by  carriage  to  find  him  there;  but 


Chronological  Glimpses.  131 


as  the  journey  was  long  Ukv  nuisl  of  neccssit)-  pass  a 
night  on  the  way.  'J'lienext  cla\- Inouglit  with  il  a  storm 
of  unusual  severity,  gullxint;  the  roads,  swceiiing  away 
bridges,  and  otlierwise  scrionsl\-  obstructing  travel. 
What  could  they  do  but  abandon  their  trij)  and  return 
home,  which  they  did. 

A  sliort  time  before  my  appointment  to  New  Bruns- 
wick the  Rev.  John  D.  lilain,  my  predecessor,  had  gone 
to  California  as  a  missionary,  having  left  behind  him 
many  proc^fsof  his  zeal  and  success,  among  them  the  new 
Pitman  Church,  ])lanned  ami  erected  imder  his  super- 
vision. The  formal  dedication  occurred  August  12. 
the  sermons  being  i)reaclicd  by  l\ev.  John  Kennaday, 
the  Rev.  William  V.  Corbit,  and  T.ishop  K.  .S.  Janes. 
Brothers  Charles  S.  Coit  and  James  M.  Freeman  were  my 
colleagues,  the  lormer  holding  a  special  pastoral  relation 
to  the  new  church.  Our  first  Sabbath  in  the  city  was 
passed  together  at  the  Liberty  Street  Church,  each  of  us 
preaching  a  sermon,  Jlrother  Freeman  being  on  duty  at 
Milltown.  After  the  evening  service,  in  passing  along 
the  sidewalk  I  overheard  some  ladies  ahead  of  me  talk- 
ing thus:  "Well,  how-  did  you  like  the  young  man  this 
evening?"  "First  rate,"  was  the  ready  answer;  and 
another  spoke  and  said,  "  Yes,  and  I  liked  the  old  man 
this  morning  too."  At  that  time  I  was  less  than  thirty- 
one  years  of  age,  being  slightly  the  junior  of  Brother 
Coit;  but  he  was  then  unmarried. 

Thechiefworkingand  contributing  force  of  the  churches 
and  congregations  in  tliis  charge  ma}'  be  rejiresented  by 
this  partial  list  of  names:  Ednuuuls — three  families — Stout, 
local  preacher,  Bis]u)p,Speer,  Miller,  Cheeseman,  Cornell, 
Owen,  Rogers,  Durant,  I'ette,  Ashmore,  Fine,  Helm,  Carl, 
Vankirk,  local  jjreacher,  Johnson,  Holland,  Strong, 
Provost,  Patterson,  Buzzie,  Conover,  Jeffries,  Edgerton, 
Meyer,  Stewart,  Grover,  Buckalew,  l*-llis,  Rusling. 


132 


Sunset  Memories. 


One  of  the  happy  circumstances  of  my  pastorate  here 
was  the  special  privilege  it  gave  me  of  association  with 
Ur.  McClintock,  then  Editor  of  our  Quarterly  Reviciv, 
who  for  a  time  resided  here.  His  social  character,  as 
also  that  of  his  family,  was  charming.  He  soon  came 
to  know  of  my  ambition  for  mental  improvement,  and 
cordially  invited  me  to  come  to  his  study  once  or  twice 
a  week  to  recite  lessons  in  Greek,  which  I  gladly  did 
with  encouraging  success.  This  was  my  first  opportunity 
to  study  under  a  competent  teacher  that  beautiful  lan- 
guage. Of  course,  the  text-book  used  was  McClintock 
&  Crooks's  First  Lessons.  My  confidence  in  Dr.  Mc- 
Clintock's  friendship  was  so  thorough  that  I  could 
preach  before  him  with  far  less  intimidation  than  before 
some  other  men  with  only  a  tithe  of  his  scholarship  and 
culture.  His  occasional  sermons  in  our  jjulpits  afforded 
rare  enjoyment.  Among  his  wise  suggestions  to  me, 
always  so  welcome,  was  this:  "  The  opening  of  your  ser- 
mons is  too  emphatic.  The  congregation  are  then 
cool,  unimpassioned,  and  not  jjrepared  to  respond  to 
deep  emotion  or  to  great  earnestness  of  voice  or  manner 
in  the  preacher.  But  by  moderation  in  the  beginning 
and  a  gradual  warming  into  emotion  and  earnestness  he 
can  carry  them  up  to  a  state  of  feeling  corresponding 
with  his  own." 

An  incident  will  illustrate  his  warm-heartedness  and 
his  tenacious  remembrance  of  old  friends,  whether  emi- 
nent or  obscure.  Memorial  services  in  honor  of  Bishop 
Waugh  were  being  held  at  Forsyth  Street  Church,  New 
York,  in  February,  1858,  at  which  Dr.  McClintock  was 
present,  thougli,  having  just  arrived  after  a  long  ab- 
sence in  Europe,  he  took  a  seat  near  the  door.  Being 
obliged  to  leave  before  the  conclusion,  I  was  about  to 
open  the  door  and  pass  out  when  a  gentle  nudge  ar- 
rested my  attention  and,  looking  around,  I  found  it  to 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


133 


be  a  friendly  signal  from  Dr.  McClintock's  cane;  then 
came  the  old  warm  grasp  of  the  hand,  and  then  the 
added  salutation,  "  Glad  to  see  you!  Come  and  see  me; 
I  want  to  have  a  chat  with  you."  Such  was  Dr.  McCIin- 
tock  in  the  warmth  and  endurance  of  his  personal 
friendships — "one  of  a  thousand." 

While  here  there  came  to  me  the  rare  pleasure  of 
hearing  the  great  Daniel  Webstci  in  the  Day  .S:  Good- 
year rubber  suit.  Our  residence  here  also  gave  oppor- 
tunity to  become  acquainted  with  that  distinguished  ci- 
vilian and  educator,  the  Hon.  Tlieodore  Frelinghuysen, 
President  of  Rutgers  College.  Scarcely  too  much  could 
be  said  of  his  great  abilities  and  manifold  excellences. 
Among  the  many  good  causes  to  the  promotion  of  which 
he  gave  his  telling  energies  was  the  great  temperance 
reform.  One  of  the  grandest  meetings  ever  held  in  the 
interest  of  this  cause  was  the  Middlesex  County  Con- 
vention, which  met  in  the  Liberty  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  October  20,  1852,  the  speakers  at  the 
day  meeting  being  Messrs.  McDonald,  Jackson,  and 
Frelinghuysen.  The  address  of  the  last  named  was  one 
never  to  be  forgotten.  He  was  at  his  best  and  spoke 
with  surpassing  power,  producing  an  enthusiasm  well- 
nigh  unbounded.  The  evening  meeting  was  also  a  nota- 
ble one,  the  speakers  being  the  Rev.  William  McDon- 
ald, Neal  Dow,  and  the  Rev.  Theodore  L.  Cuyler.  Of 
course,  Neal  Dow  was  the  hero  of  the  hour  and  gave 
"  a  convincing  argument,"  as  I  made  record  at  the  time. 
He  was  our  guest  at  the  parsonage,  the  remembrance  of 
which  has  always  been  associated  in  our  minds  with  a 
sense  of  honor  in  having  entertained  such  a  guest.  My 
acquaintance  with  Brother  McDonald  began  about  this 
time,  and  we  were  honored  in  also  having  him  for  a 
guest.  For  many  years  his  has  been  the  noble  and  use- 
ful work  of  promoting  by  both  voice  and  pen  the  special 


134 


Sunset  Memories. 


cause  of  Bible  holiness,  defending  and  advocating  it 
from  the  true  A\'esleyan  standpoint.  To  human  seeming 
such  men  ought  to  live  a  thousand  years! 

During  our  time  in  this  charge  one  of  the  sorest  vis- 
itations of  rro\  idence  came  to  our  home  in  the  sickness 
and  death  of  our  little  Fannie,  four  and  a  half  years  old. 
Her  portrait,  one  of  Theodore  fine's  finest  oil  paintings, 
indicates  even  to  tlie  most  impartial  eyes  her  impressive 
loveliness.  The  artist  was  guided  by  a  daguerreotype 
taken  some  months  before  her  death;  and  to  insure  per- 
fect correctness  we  requested  Mr.  (afterward  the  Hon.) 
James  Bishop,  Dr.  McClintock,  and  ]5crhaps  one  or  two 
other  friends  who  knew  her  well,  to  visit  Mr.  Pine's 
studio  and  make  any  suggestions  that  might  seem  need- 
ful, which  they  kindly  did.  The  finished  picture  was 
strikingly  lifelike  and  eminently  satisfactory,  the  one 
truly  ideal  ])irture  of  our  home  for  more  than  forty 
years.  'J'his  great  bereavement  is  sj^oken  of  more  at 
lengtli  in  the  writer's  book,  Railid  M'ccpiii!:^  for  Her 
CliilJrcn,  p;iges  90-94,  which  is  ])ul)lished  by  the  Meth- 
odist Jiook  Concern,  New  York.  "When  liishop  Janes, 
afterward  visiting  us,  saw  and  read  the  original  lines 
there  given,  J  spoke  of  them  as  "  rhymes,"  to  which  he 
tersely  answered,  "They  are  more  than  rhymes;  they 
are  genuine  poetry."  There  was  one  sustaining  close  fra- 
ternal relations  toward  us  who  could  especially  sympa- 
ihi/.c  witli  us  in  our  bereavement  by  reason  of  his  own 
far  heas  ier  aflbction.  Between  the  first  Mrs.  Freeman, 
wife  of  the  Re\-.  J.  M.  k'reeman,  and  our  ])recious  one 
there  was  a  lender  attacliment,  and  in  their  death  they 
were  divided  by  only  two  intervening  ilays.  That  she 
was  a  truly  model  woman,  wife,  and  friend  will  be  read- 
ily conceded  by  all  who  ever  knew  her. 

In  the  latter  ])art  of  my  last  year  arrangements  were 
made,  as  in  a  late  former  charge,  for  the  erection  of  a 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


135 


new  parsonage,  and  with  this  in  view  a  certain  Sabbatli 
was  set  apart  for  the  raising  of  a  building  fund.  Aided 
by  the  stirring  sermons  and  appeals  of  the  Rev.  William 
M.  D.  Ryan,  of  Philadelphia,  the  day  was  crowned  with 
a  good  measure  of  success.  The  house  was  built  on 
Bayard  Street,  and  the  next  year  occupied  by  my  suc- 
cessor, the  Rev.  Samuel  Y.  Monroe. 

As  I  review  my  pastorate  here  I  can  readily  perceive 
that  the  serious  impairment  of  my  health  was  the  result 
of  plain,  natural  causes,  but  causes  to  which  at  the  time 
I  was  largely  blinded.  Being  ambitious  to  accomplisli 
the  best  results  in  the  ])ulpit  and  elsewhere,  I  worked 
excessively,  especially  in  tlio  matter  of  niglil  study. 
The  question  of  Gay,  in  his  jjoem  of  1712,  "  Tlie  Shep- 
herd's Week," 

"  Hath  thy  toil 
O'er  books  consumed  the  midnight  oil  ?  " 

quite  fails  to  indicate  the  full  measure  of  my  folly  in 
nocturnal  study.  The  habitual  consuming  of  the  "mid- 
night "  oil  would  have  been  bad  enough ;  but  the  addi- 
tion of  one,  two,  sometimes  even  tliree  hours  in  study, 
meant  far  more  than  a  simple  consumption  of  oil  or  its 
equivalent — it  meant  a  slow,  but  sure,  consuming  of  my 
vital  energies. 

All  the  horrors  of  chronic  dyspepsia  intervened, 
which  ceased  not  to  cling  to  me  in  greater  or  less 
severity  for  twenty-five  years,  and  the  gliostly  shadow 
of  which  will  doiibtlesslv  haunt  me  to  my  grave.  Just 
then  my  situation  was  iciulcrcd  the  more  trying  by  the 
near  approach  of  our  Annual  Conference  which  was  to 
meet  in  the  Liberty  Street  Church,  the  chief  labor  of 
preparing  for  which  fell,  of  course,  upon  the  pastor. 
Among  the  visitors  at  that  Conference  was  Dr.  J.  M. 
Howe,  of  Passaic,  N.  J.,  who  temporarily  became  our 
guest,  and  by  whom  valuable  suggestions  were  made 


136 


Sunset  Memories- 


concerning  my  health.  Besides  recommending  his  in- 
haling tube,  he  instructed  me  in  such  processes  of 
kneading,  tapping,  and  pommeling  the  abdominal  mus- 
cles, supplemented  by  simple  calisthenics,  as  proved  of 
unspeakable  service  in  affording  relief  and  leading  to 
measurable  recovery.  Indeed,  my  honest  conviction 
is  that  in  the  absence  of  the  knowledge  thus  afforded  I 
should  have  been  dead  long  ago.  The  manipulations 
in  my  case  were  of  far  greater  service  than  the  tube. 

The  Conference  opened  April  12,  1854,  and  was  pre- 
sided over  by  Bishop  Waugh,  who  found  a  pleasant 
home  in  one  of-  our  excellent  families,  Brother  Jephtha 
Cheeseman's.  The  session  was  marked  by  a  phenome- 
nal snowstorm,  which  came  during  Saturday  night,  the 
15th,  and  was  followed  by  a  cold  wintry  wind  on 
Sunday.  A  free  use  of  shovels  was  needed  to  clear  the 
sidewalks  and  make  passageways  to  the  doors  of  tlie 
churches. 

Two  facts  of  very  dissimilar  importance  may  be 
added.  One  relates  to  the  adojition  of  tlie  pastor's 
name  for  a  dear  boy  in  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robert  ^\'i!son,  making  it  pleasant  to  reflect  after 
leaving  that,  in  one  family  at  least,  the  name  would 
be  held  in  remembrance.  The  other  fact  relates  to 
a  watch  night  service  and  its  blessed  outcome.  Dr. 
Joseph  Holdich  preached  and  otherwise  assisted. 
A  solitary  mourner  bowed  at  the  altar — an  intelligent, 
comely  young  lady  prominently  connected  with  the 
Sunday  school,  of  which  Brother  Bishop  was  the  cul- 
tured and  efficient  superintendent.  For  long  and 
weary  montiis  she  had  been  a  seeker  at  home  and  at 
the  church.  Though  much  discouraged,  she  now  re- 
solved to  seek  once  more.  Menioralile  niijlit  on  which 
Miss  Henrietta  Deeth  realized  tin;  new-found  joy  of 
pardoned  sin!    Her  goodly  fellowsliip  witii  the  church 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


137 


incited  to  fresh  zeal  and  increased  usefulness.  A  few 
years  later  she  became  the  wife  of  Mayor  Ezekiel 
Patterson. 

COMMKRCE  StREK  I',   BrIDGETOX,   1 854-56. 

Many  were  the  circumstances  that  combined  to 
render  our  term  of  service  here  a  happy  and  prosperous 
one  : 

1.  A  good  parsonage,  owned  by  the  church,  nearly 
new,  and  far  better  than  the  average  in  those  times. 

2.  A  spiritual  and  well-organized  church.  Our  peo- 
ple believed  in  class  meetings  and  attended  them,  as 
well  as  the  other  means  of  grace.  The  stewards,  lead- 
ers, and  trustees  were  all  godly  men  and  men  of  good 
business  capabilities,  which  they  used  in  the  affairs  of 
the  church. 

3.  Large,  attentive  congregations,  filling  the  church 
below,  and  frequently  filling  the  three  galleries  above. 
If  any  were  inclined  to  rudeness  the  trustees  were  so 
distributed  in  all  sections  of  the  house,  under  their  own 
wise  arrangement,  as  to  be  able  promptly  to  detect  and 
as  promptly  to  clieck  all  signs  of  disorder. 

'4.  A  large  and  harmonious  chorus  choir,  under  the 
able,  discreet  leadership  of  Brother  A.  L).  Maul. 

5.  A  united  membership,  more  free  from  jealousies 
and  bickerings  than  most  others,  with  a  wholesome 
equality  of  financial  condition  and  social  position — none 
very  rich,  and  none  very  poor. 

6.  The  good  feeling  and  fellowship  between  the  two 
churches  of  our  denomination.  Commerce  Street  and 
Trinity  or  Fayette  Street. 

7.  Tlie  respect  and  confidence  of  the  other  denomi- 
nations. Two  circumstances  lieliicil  to  bring  me  into 
very  pleasant  ])ersonal  relations  ^\•ith  the  Presbyterians. 
One  was  the  fact  that  our  Conference  had  met  at  Com- 


138 


Sunset  Memories. 


nierce  Street  in  i<S53,  and  that  1  had  been  assigned  for 
cntcitainnicnt  to  the  goodly  home  of  Mr.  Henry 
Lupton,  a  prominent  member  and  officer  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  Dr.  Durbin,  the  Rev.  Rol)ert  L.  Dashiel, 
then  of  Baltimore  Conference,  and  my  brother  Samuel 
having  also  been  assigned  to  the  same  place.  Tliis 
gave  me  opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Lujjton  and  his  excellent  sister  and  housekeeper  a  year 
in  advance  of  my  appointment  to  that  town.  The  other 
circumstance  referred  to  was  that  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Cumberland  County  fJible  Society  would  be  iield 
early  in  May  at  the  I'resbyterian  church,  and  that  under 
an  established  rule  it  would  be  the  turn  of  the  Com- 
merce Street  jjastor  to  preach  the  sermon.  Our  recent 
arrival  and  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  parsonage 
made  this  embarrassing,  but  duty  seemed  to  recjuire 
submiission  to  the  venerable  usage.  When  the  day  came 
I  was  blessed  with  nuich  freedom  in  discoursing  from 
the  text,  "  Thy  testimonies  are  wonderful."  This  occa- 
sion afforded  me  opportunity  to  make  the  acquaintance 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jones,  the  able  and  influential  pastor  of 
the  church,  together  with  that  of  Judge  Elmer,  John  T. 
Nixon,  Esq.,  af'terward  judge,  and  other  prominent 
citizens. 

8.  The  delightful  companionship  of  fellow  Confer- 
ence associates.  Two  of  these  resided  in  the  town. 
Brothers  Alexander  L.  Brice,  pastor  of  Trinity,  and 
Samuel  Parker,  a  sui)ernumerary  engaged  in  kce])ing  a 
book  and  stationery  store.  AVe  were  all  partial  invalids 
and  needed  physical  recruiting;  and  with  this  in- view 
we  made  frecjuent  excursions  to  field  or  forest,  where, 
secluded  from  public  gaze,  we  could  practice  various 
athletics,  as  running,  jumping,  leaping,  climbing,  etc. 
Whether  or  not  these  exercises  contributed  essentially 
to  our  physical  invigoration,  they  certainly  did  afford 


Chronological  Glimpses.  139 


large  measures  of  physical  and  social  enjoyment. 
Krotlier  Benjamin  ¥.  Woolston  was  in  1855  appointed 
l)astor  at  Roadstown,  four  miles  away,  and  him  we  were 
invited  to  visit  at  liis  boarding  place,  his  host  being  an 
officer  of  the  church  there  and  tlie  owner  of  a  very  fine 
peach  orchard.  It  was  just  the  right  season  of  year  for 
plucking  the  ri[)e,  rich  fruit,  and  we  were  given  the  fice- 
dom  of  the  orchard.  Never  did  four  men  of  the  cloth 
more  fully  enjoy  such  a  freedom.  Remembering  my 
dyspeptic  troubles,  I  at  first  i)lurked  and  ate  very 
charily;  but  after  a  while,  so  tempting  was  the  luscious 
fruit,  I  began  to  reason  thus:  "Well,  in  any  case  I 
must  suffer,  so  as  well  be  hung  for  a  sheep  as  for  a 
lamb."  Strolling  from  tree  to  tree,  we  made  the  com- 
pass of  that  delectable  orchard,  until  every  palate  was 
satisfied  and  every  capacity  repletcd.  Of  course,  I  ex- 
pected to  pass  a  sleei)less,  suffering  night;  but,  instead 
of  this,  I  rested  in  unusual  (piietness  and  comfort,  from 
which  I  learned  that  among  the  specially  wholesome 
fruits  for  dyspeptics  is  the  peach  in  its  fuUgrown,  ripe, 
and  fresh  condition.  That  was  a  happy  day  for  soul 
and  body.  Where  are  Brothers  Rrice,  Parker,  and 
Woolston.'    (lone!    And  I  alone  am  left. 

9.  'The  unusual  number  of  families  from  which  came 
invitations  for  social  visits  by  the  pastor  and  his  family. 
Not  to  have  accejitetl  these  would  have  been  to  deny 
ourselves  the  pleasure  of  corilial  and  eminently  enjoy- 
able entertainment  in  numerous  excellent  homes.  A  long 
list  of  names  is  ])efore  me,  Init,  as  all  cannot  ])e  written, 
I  mention  none,  w  ith  a  single  exception,  that  of  lii'other 
I^ayton  B.  \\  liitakcr,  with  wh<_)m,  in  addition  to  general 
church  and  social  relations,  there  sprang  uj)  a  small 
business  matter  in  which  he  showed  a  genuine  si)irit  of 
unselfish  kindness  and  accommodation.  \'ears  since 
he  passed  to  his  reward,  leaving  a  devoted  wife  and 


140 


Sunset  Memories. 


two  daughters  to  represent  his  pure  character  and 
life. 

lo.  The  good  revivals  which  crowned  the  united  labors 
of  the  pastor  and  ^people.  One  of  these  occurred  each 
year,  giving  us  forty  probationers  the  first  year,  and  eighty- 
nine  the  second.  We  had  a  strong  working  force  of  loyal 
men  and  women,  with  whom  it  was  no  hardship  to  carry 
forward  our  revival  campaigns.  Among  the  names  added 
to  our  probationers'  list  was  that  of  Charles  F.  Sheppard. 
He  was  a  faithful  boy,  graduating  in  due  time  to  full 
membership,  who  felt  called  to  the  ministry,  gave  him- 
self to  study,  entered  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  mar- 
ried a  sister  of  Dr.  R.  L.  Dashiel,  and  for  many  years 
has  been  a  busy,  successful  pastor  in  the  Wilmington 
Conference.  Another  honored  name  may  be  fitly  men- 
tioned in  this  connection.  Before  the  Leaders  and  Stew- 
ards' Meeting  there  came  an  application  in  behalf  of 
Benjamin  O.  Parvin  for  an  exhorter's  license.  He  was 
recommended  and  the  license  issued,  which  was  followed 
soon  after  with  a  local  preacher's  license,  and,  in  the 
spring  of  1856,  by  his  admission  on  trial  in  the  New  Jer- 
sey Conference.  One  year  later  liis  appointment  fell  in 
the  Newark  Conference,  of  whicli  he  has  continued  a 
beloved  member  until  now.  His  career  in  the  active 
pastoral  work  M-as  brief  by  reason  of  insufficient  health; 
but  his  eminent  usefulness  in  the  Second  Church,  now 
Trinity,  of  Rahway,  where  he  resides,  is  proof  of  his 
helpful  influence  in  counsel,  holy  living,  and  Christian 
work.  Once,  when  his  presiding  elder,  I  saw  him  se- 
verely tested,  but  found  him  as  inflexible  for  the  right  as 
the  test  was  hard  to  bear. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  pastorate  a  new  joy  came  to 
our  home  in  the  birth  of  a  precious  daughter,  Julia,  who, 
having  grown  to  a  true  womanhood,  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Dennis,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  the  happy 


Chronological  Glimpses.  141 


mother  of  the  three  winsome  children,  two  daughters 
and  a  son,  who  now  cheer  their  home. 

During  our  term  here  opportunity  came  for  another 
vacation.  My  objective  point  was  Rock  Island,  on  the 
Mississippi,  where  lived  my  eldest  brother.  Setting  out 
alone  at  Philadelphia,  my  first  halting  place  was  Cincin- 
nati, where  I  took  occasion  to  cross  over  to  Covington, 
Ky.,  in  search  of  several  relations  whom  I  had  never 
seen,  descendants  of  my  father's  half-brother  Joel.  It 
was'  a  pleasure  to  meet  them.  Then  came  a  trip  by 
steamer  twenty  miles  down  the  Ohio  to  Lawrenceburg, 
where  we  transferred  to  a  train  pointing  northward.  I 
remembered  that  a  former  Conference  associate  in  New 
Jersey,  the  Rev.  Asaph  C.  Vandewater,  was  then  resid- 
ing at  Thorntown,  Ind.,  right  in  the  line  of  travel;  him 
I  must  visit,  if  only  for  a  few  hours,  which  I  did,  a  later 
train  bearing  me  on  to  Indianapolis,  where  the  niglit  was 
passed.  The  next  day  came  Michigan  City  and  Chicago, 
when  a  Rock  Island  train  was  boarded  for  the  balance 
of  the  journey.  Having  become  domiciled  at  my  broth- 
er's house  in  his  absence,  it  was  not  wonderful  that  upon 
entering  a  short  time  after  he  should  fail  to  recognize 
me,  for  about  twenty  years  had  passed  since  I,  a  boy,  had 
tearfully  said  good-bye  to  him  on  his  removal  to  the  "far 
AVest." 

That  visit  marked  one  of  the  greenest  spots  of  my  life. 
Among  those  whom  I  had  the  honor  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  were  Judge  Spencer  and  his  family.  He 
had  known  much  of  pioneer  life,  but  was  now  enjoying 
the  quiet  competency  and  comfort  of  a  substantial  city 
home.  Here  several  delightful  hours  were  passed  as 
an  invited  guest  with  my  brother  and  his  genial  wife. 
It  was  "  meet  and  right  "  that  one  of  the  boys  of  that 
home  should  grow  up  and  become  an  eminent  minister 
among  us. 
10 


142 


Sunset  Memories. 


The  next  Sunday  developed  the  following  coinci- 
dences :  To  the  congregation  at  Rock  Island,  where  I 
preached  in  the  morning,  belonged  the  promising  youth 
who  in  these  later  years  has  become  so  widely  known  and 
honored  as  the  junior  secretary  of  our  Board  of  Church 
Extension,  Dr.  \V.  A.  Spencer;  and,  crossing  the  river  in 
a  rowbuat  at  evening,  I  was  cordially  welcomed  to  the 
pulpit  of  the  Davenport,  la.,  church  by  its  young  pas- 
tor, who  not  many  years  after  was  called  to  the  responsi- 
ble position  of  secretary  of  the  same  society,  then  in  its 
infancy,  and  who  ever  since  has  been  serving  the 
Church  in  that  ])osition  with  distinguished  ability  and 
usefulness — Dr.  A.  J.  Kynett. 

An  added  coincidence  was  this:  The  first  secretary 
of  that  society  was  Dr.  S.  Y.  Monroe,  who  immediately 
after  the  Ceneral  Conference  of  1864  was  transferred 
from  the  New  Jersey  Conference  and  appointed  pastor 
of  Trinity  Church,  in  Jersey  City,  Newark  Conference, 
thereby  supjilying  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  elec- 
tion of  the  late  pastor.  Dr.  (afterward  Bishoii)  I.  W. 
Wiley,  to  the  editorial  chair  of  tlie  Ladies  Repository ; 
and  now  a  new  affliction  to  Trinity  Church  came  on 
apace.  Hers  having  been  the  good  or  the  ill  fortune  of 
being  ministered  to  by  men  of  sui)erior  ability,  another 
pastoral  bereavement  became  imminent.  Dr.  Monroe, 
with  his  family,  was  scarcely  more  than  well  settled  in 
his  new  home  when  the  voice  of  Providence  quietly  en- 
tered that  home  with  the  unexpected  message,  "This  is 
not  your  rest."  AVhat  did  it  mean  ?  Simjjly,  though 
seriously,  that  the  bishops  of  the  Church  had  fixed  upon 
Dr.  Monroe  for  secretary  of  the  newly  organized 
Board  of  Church  Extension,  a  matter  which  very  di- 
rectly and  very  deeply  concerned  me  as  his  presiding 
elder.  How  to  supply  the  vacancy  thus  made  at  Trinity 
became  a  i^erplexing  problem,  which,  however,  was  soon 


Chronological  Glimpses.  143 


after  happily  solved  by  llic  employment  of  Dr.  Hiram 
Mattison.  Alas,  that  tiicre  should  so  early  come  to  the 
society  so  ably  represented  by  Dr.  Monroe  the  distress- 
in-  (  alaniiiy  of  his  sudden,  mysterious  death  February 
9,  I  .S07,  (  i  cating  a  sad,  important  vacancy  which  Dr. 
Kynett  was  j)romptly  and  wisely  called  to  fill.  These  suc- 
cessive coincidences  supplied  to  me  those  providential 
links  of  memory  in  connection  with  our  church  exten- 
sion work  which  can  never  cease  to  be  of  both  pleasing 
and  painful  interest. 

'I'he  homeward  trip  from  Rock  Island  began  with  a 
delightful  carriage  ride  across  the  country,  my  nephew, 
Dr.  A.  Clarke  \'ansant,  having  invited  me  to  accompany 
him  in  this  way  as  far  as  Rockford,  a  distance  of  about 
eighty  miles.  The  first  day  took  us  to  I'roplietstown  ; 
the  second  to  Dixon,  where  we  passed  the  night  with 
friends  whom  I  had  known  in  New  York,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hines;  on  the  third  we  approached  Rockford  just  as 
the  setting  sun  was  casting  his  rays  across  the  broad 
acres  of  golden  wheat  as  it  gracefully  bowed  before  us 
and  around  us.  A  more  gf)rgeous  sunset  we  had  not 
before  witnessed.  Soon  came  the  pleasure  of  calls  on 
two  families  of  former  esteemed  parishioners  in  Wood- 
row  charge,  I'.rothers  AVilliani  Jobes  and  Thomas  Dorset. 
Acquaintance  was  formed  witli  one  of  the  pastors,  the 
Rev.  James  r>a\une,  at  whose  invitation  I  occupied  his 
pulpit  on  the  Sabbath.  On  Monday,  taking  train  for 
Chicago,  I  left  behind  the  finest  city  hy  far  in  the  line 
of  my  western  journeyings.  At  Chicago  I  was  <  (irdially 
entertained  in  the  ])leasant  home  of  the  Rev.  J.  IT  (now 
Bishop)  Vincent's  jjarcnts.  My  trip,  resumed  next  day, 
soon  ended  in  a  safe  and  grateful  reunion  with  the 
loved  ones  at  home. 

Here  came  to  the  pastor's  wife  the  honor  of  having 
her  name  perpetuated  in  one  of  our  excellent  families. 


144 


Sunset  Memories. 


Amelia  Graham,  from  a  lovely  babe,  advanced  to  a  fair 
maidenhood,  and  thence  to  the  joint  headship  of  a 
happy  home  near  Salem,  N.  J.,  where  she  is  now  re- 
siding. ^ 

Trinity,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  1856-58. 

At  the  Conference  of  1856,  held  in  the  Broad  Street, 
now  St.  Paul's,  Church,  Newark,  and  i)resided  over  by 
Bishop  Simpson,  I  was  confronted  with  a  serious  i)rob- 
lem  concerning  my  health.  Feeling  that  my  next  charge 
must  be  a  very  light  one,  I  was  urged  by  my  host,  Mr. 
Abram  Hedenberg,  a  friend  as  true  as  he  was  impulsive, 
to  open  the  subject  to  my  presiding  elder,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Sovereign.  This  would  be  something  quite 
new  for  one  who  had  been  accustomed  to  (juietly  re- 
ceive his  appointments  without  asking  any  (juestions  ; 
but  necessity  seemed  now  to  require  and  justify  it.  On 
consulting  tlie  elder  I  found  that  my  name  stood  for 
Broad  Street,  Burlington,  a  large  and  important  church; 
but,  while  I  felt  complimented  by  this  arrangement,  1 
was  compelled  to  say  to  him  that  my  health  was  utterly 
insufficient  for  such  a  charge,  and  asked  him  to  accom- 
modate me  with  a  smaller  one.  He  afterward  reported 
to  me  a  transfer  of  my  name  from  Burlington  to  Eliza- 
beth, a  ligliter  charge,  indeed,  but  still  a  city  church, 
and  one  requiring  the  work  of  a  strong  man. 

My  perplexity  led  to  serious  thoughts  of  a  supernu- 
merary relatioti,  touching  which  I  soiiglit  tlie  advice  of 
Dr.  Isaac  W.  ^^'iley,  tlien  an  honored  member  of  our 
("onference.  He  counseled  against  a  ciiange  of  relation, 
saying  that  my  total  severance  from  a  definite  aim  and 
work  would  be  likely  to  hinder  rather  than  hasten  my 
recovery;  and,  accepting  his  judgment  as  correct,  I 
committed  myself  fully  to  the  guiding  hand  of  an  all- 
wise  Providence,  having  exercised,  as  it  seemed  to  me. 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


145 


all  proper  human  precautions.  The  outcome  was  just 
right ;  wlien  tlie  appointments  were  read  my  name  was 
announced  for  Trinity  Church,  Staten  Island,  a  charge 
quite  above  what  I  had  fancied  would  be  best  for  me, 
but  one  thoroughly  adapted  to  my  actual  needs. 

Here,  in  the  winter  of  our  second  year,  one  of  the 
most  extensive  revivals  of  my  ministry  occurred,  result- 
ing in  the  professed  conversion  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
souls.  Some  of  these  went  to  other  churches,  and  some 
belonged  to  other  neighborhoods;  but  all,  except  about 
thirty,  became  enrolled  in  our  list  of  probationers. 
During  our  special  services  of  eight  or  ten  weeks  but 
two  or  three  extra  sermons  were  preached,  the  talent 
employed  in  assisting  the  pastor  being  the  home  talent 
of  the  church.  Nobly  did  the  leaders,  stewards,  trus- 
tees, and  members  cooperate  by  prayer,  exhortation,  and 
personal  entreaty  in  carrying  forward  the  blessed  work. 

Many  names  connected  with  this  charge,  as  it  then 
was,  rush  upon  my  memory:  W.  D.  Simonson,  the 
brothers  Snedcker,  William  and  J.  W.,  L.  Onderdonk, 
S.  K.  Smack,  Thompson,  Shilcox,  Wilde,  J.  Smith,  R. 
P.  Smyth,  B.  F.  Roe,  Parker,  Jones,  Kennison,  Hough- 
wout,  L.  Edwards,  Dunham,  (Ireer,  Blake,  Hillyer,  Price, 
Young,  JJodine,  Gibson,  Merrill,  Mitchell,  Mersereau, 
Decker,  Waltears,  Sise,  Morris,  Steers,  Sprague,  Heal, 
Clark,  Alston,  Wells,  Speer,  Seawood,  Burbank,  Stillwell, 
Houseman,  Cadmus,  Pratt,  J.  Q.  Simonson,  Searles, 
Boice,  Degroot. 

In  the  congregation  there  statedly  sat  at  my  right  two 
hearers  of  special  literary  note,  Messrs.  Gabriel  P.  Dis- 
osway  and  Robert  A.  West.  'I'he  former  was  a  fre- 
quent contributor  to  various  papers  and  magazines  and 
the  author  or  compiler  of  some  excellent  Ijooks,  among 
them  that  superb  volume,  called  Our  Exccllfiit  Woinoi, 
which   I  prize  as  a  true  ornament  to  my  library  in 


146 


Sunset  Memories. 


keeping  with  its  name.  He,  with  most  of  his  family, 
is  gone;  but  it  was  refreshing  to  the  writer  on  July  4, 
1895,  to  meet  his  son  Wilbur  and  with  him  talk  over 
the  past.  For  several  years  Mr.  West  was  Editor  of  the 
New  York  Co)iiiucrcial  Advej'tiser  and  held  that  position 
at  the  time  of  my  first  acquaintance  with  him,  his  fam- 
ily residence  being  not  far  from  Mr.  Disosway's.  That 
they  were  intelligent  hearers  goes  without  saying;  but 
with  all  their  knowledge  and  culture  they  were  far  from 
being  captious  or  hypercritical.  To  preach  before  such 
men  was  a  matter  of  pleasure,  rather  than  of  dread. 

Once,  when  I  had  preached  from  the  text,  "  Now  are 
we  the  sons  of  God,"  etc.,  and  had  s])oken  of  spiritual 
sonship  as  "the  relation  acquired,"  Mr.  West  very  mod- 
estly asked  me,  when  alone,  whether  the  word  "con- 
ferred" or  ''bestowed"  would  not  be  better  than  "ac- 
quired?" I  caught  the  idea  at  once  and  said,  "O  yes, 
sonsliij)  in  God's  spiritual  family  is  a  state  or  relation 
conferred  by  him,  and  not  accpiired  by  us."  Thanking 
him  cordially  for  his  wise  suggestion,  I  never  tliereafter 
failed  to  profit  thereby.  In  1851  a  volume  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pages  from  his  ready  pen  was  issued 
by  our  Book  Concern  with  the  modest  title,  Skcfi/ws  of 
]]\-slcyan  Prcitchcis,  wliich  had  a  rapid  and  extensive 
sale,  as  it  fully  deserved.  A  copy  of  this  very  interest- 
ing work  came  to  me  in  1857,  the  fly  leaf  bearing  my 
name,  "with  kind  regards  of  the  autlior,"  written  in  his 
neat  and  easy  hand.  That  Dr.  Wardle,  of  the  New 
York  Conference,  should  have  come  to  Mr.  West's  home 
to  find  a  wife  among  his  three  or  four  comely  daughters 
was  not  at  all  surprising;  others  of  his  profession  might 
safely  have  done  tlie  same. 

During  our  second  year  at  Trinity  a  sore  afiliction 
came  to  one  of  our  chief  families,  that  of  Brother 
William  Snedeker,  in  the  death  of  his  son  Charles  N. 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


147 


One  of  the  promising  young  men  of  the  cliurch,  lie  was 
fast  developing  into  an  active,  efficient  worker;  but 
after  an  unexpected  illness  God  took  him  from  loving 
parents,  an  only  brother,  and  a  devoted  wife  of  rare 
beauty,  intelligence,  and  talent — the  young  mother  of  a 
lovely  boy  baby.  At  the  funeral  a  somewliat  extended 
sketch  of  the  deceased  by  the  pastor  was  read,  and  after- 
ward published  in  small  pamphlet  form.  In  sadness  we 
bore  his  body  to  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  and  tenderly  laid  it 
away  to  await  a  glorious  resurrection.  The  precious 
boy  became  a  special  tie  of  endearment  to  the  grand- 
parents and  a  special  object  of  their  care,  training,  and 
education.  He  has  grown  to  a  noble,  cultured  manhood, 
and  now,  without  either  parent  and  without  grand- 
parents, he  lives  to  honor  the  cherished  name  of  each 
and  to  bless  the  Church,  in  the  manly  person  and  use- 
ful ministry  of  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  Snedeker  of  the 
New  York  Conference. 

Here  also  came  to  our  home  a  welcome  boy,  Wilbur 
Craig,  whose  early  promise  of  continued  life  and  health 
was  very  assuring;  but  sickness  stole  on  apace  and  main- 
tained its  hold  till  a  fatal  result  seemed  inevitable. 
The  hope  of  his  recovery  was  abandoned  by  all  save 
one,  who  clung  to  her  almost  skeleton  babe  with  the 
unconquerable  tenacity  of  a  mother's  love  and  hope. 
Much  prayer  went  up  to  heaven,  and  the  all-loving 
Father  answered ;  suddenly  came  signs  of  a  favorable 
change,  surprising  physicians  and  friends  alike.  That 
almost  dying  babe  is  at  this  writing  the  honored  Sunday 
school  superintendent  of  First  Church,  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  active  in  various  other  lines  of  church  work.  Hav- 
ing gone  to  that  city  for  business  purposes,  he  found  a 
young  lady,  Miss  Carrie  S.  Nelson,  who  met  his  ideal 
of  maidenly  excellence,  resulting  in  their  nuptials  Oc- 
tober 13,  1886.    Their  inviting  home  at  Roland  Park  is 


148 


Sunset  Memories. 


now  brightened  by  three  comely  children,  a  son  and  two 
daughters. 

My  successor  was  a  Conference  classmate,  the  genial, 
whole  souled  Rev.' Michael  E.  Ellison. 

Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  1858-60. 

This  was  my  second  appointment  as  a  member  of  the 
Newark  Conference,  the  first  separate  session  of  which 
was  held  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  March  31,  1858.  At  the 
session  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference  held  in  Newark 
two  years  before,  action  had  been  taken  requesting  the 
General  Conference  to  authorize  a  division  of  that  Con- 
ference into  two  distinct  bodies,  the  one  to  retain  the 
old  name,  and  the  other  to  take  the  name  of  Newark. 
This  authorization  was  given  by  the  General  Conference 
at  its  quadrennial  session  in  May,  1856,  the  same  to  take 
effect  at  the  next  session  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference, 
which,  as  the  Minutes  show,  was  held  in  Trenton  April 
8,  1857,  and  presided  over  by  Bishop  Scott.  The  ses- 
sion closed  with  the  reading  of  two  sets  of  appoint- 
ments, under  the  two  heads  of  "  Newark  Conference  " 
and  "New  Jersey  Conference." 

During  the  session  at  Morristown  my  presiding  elder. 
Dr.  John  S.  Porter,  asked  me  which  I  would  prefer  for 
my  next  appointment.  Orange  or  Haverstraw.  "  O,"  I 
said,  "  it  is  not  for  me  to  choose  ;  that  belongs  to  others. 
But,"  I  added,  "  if  I  should  express  a  preference  it 
would  be  in  favor  of  Haverstraw."  He  approved  my 
answer,  which,  however,  was  not  based  on  any  definite 
knowledge  of  the  two  places,  but  only  on  a  general  im- 
pression. Our  home  at  Haverstraw  was  delightful,  and 
our  term  of  service  not  without  good  fruit. 

As  the  close  of  the  first  year  approached  we  were  all 
looking  forward  with  intense  interest  to  the  coming  ses- 
sion of  Newark  Conference,  which  had  selected  Hav- 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


149 


erstraw  as  its  next  place  of  meeting.  Could  so  large  a 
body  be  accommodated  in  so  small  a  place?  A  thor- 
ough canvass  was  made,  which  happily  resulted  in  a 
favorable  answer;  but,  of  course,  we  were  obliged  to  do 
what  was  also  our  great  pleasure,  that  is,  accept  the 
proffered  hospitality  of  other  churches.  The  truly  fra- 
ternal spirit  manifested  by  the  two  Presbyterian  congre- 
gations, with  their  pastors,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Freeman 
and  Myers,  was  as  warmly  appreciated  as  it  was  oppor- 
tune. 

For  the  first  time  after  his  long  and  dangerous  sick- 
ness, contracted  in  the  East,  Bishop  Simpson  was  to 
preside,  with  his  home  at  the  parsonage,  next  door  to 
the  church.  When  the  time  came  he  was  accompanied 
by  Mrs.  Simpson  and  little  Charlie.  Our  entertainment 
of  the  bishop,  with  his  dear  wife  and  boy,  marked  a 
green  spot  in  our  home  life  which  ever  since  has  con- 
tinued fresh  and  inspiring.  Other  dear  friends  were  with 
us  during  that  week,  adding  to  the  pleasures  of  the  oc- 
casion— Mrs.  C.  Holsman,  Mrs.  N.  Sipp,  and  Miss  Mar- 
tha Jones.  A  week  more  full  of  true  enjoyment  cannot 
well  be  imagined.  We  afterward  learned  to  our  real 
comfort  that  Bishop  Simpson's  memory  was  too  tena- 
cious and  his  heart  too  warm  ever  to  forget  or  to  neg- 
lect old  friends.  My  own  frequent,  and  my  wife's  occa- 
sional, meetings  with  him  always  brought  an  instant 
recognition  and  a  warm  greeting. 

The  Conference  sermons  and  addresses  were  preemi- 
nently enjoyable.  A  program  had  been  prepared  call- 
ing for  a  sermon  each  evening,  followed  by  an  exhorta- 
tion after  the  old-time  Methodist  order,  and  it  worked 
hapjjily.  Among  those  who  preached  or  exhorted  were 
the  Revs.  George  Winsor,  James  O.  Rogers,  Alexander 
H.  Mead,  Bartholomew  Weed,  etc.  The  anniversaries 
were  fewer  then  than  now,  and  were  held  in  the  after- 


ISO 


Sunset  Memories. 


noons.  Following  a  grand  missionary  speech  from  the 
Rev.  William  Tunison  was  a  thrilling  address  by  Dr. 
McClintock,  who  outdid  even  himself.  He  was  in  his 
happiest  mood,  and  carried  the  audience  whither  he 
would.  One  of  the  speakers  at  the  Sunday  school  an- 
niversary was  the  Rev.  Richard  B.  Lockwood,  whose 
sparkling  address  delighted  both  preachers  and  people. 
The  cause  of  education  was  represented  by  Dr.  James 
Strong  with  even  more  than  his  usual  sprightliness  and 
ability. 

The  Sabbath  services  were  full  of  interest  and  unc- 
tion. Bishop  Simpson  not  being  able  to  preach  in  the 
morning,  Bishop  Janes  took  his  place  and  nobly  filled 
it.  His  text  was  Phil,  iv,  7,  which  he  elaborated  with 
telling  impressiveness  and  power.  The  sermon  of  the 
afternoon  was  by  Dr.  Holdich,  who  preached  well  and 
usefully,  but  without  reaching  his  usual  elevated  stand- 
ard. Years  afterward  he  told  me  the  cause  of  his  fail- 
ure, as  he  considered  it.  He  had  been  invited  to  dine 
with  the  bishops  at  the  deliglitful  home  of  Brother  Si- 
las D.  Gardner,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the 
village,  where  a  luxurious  dinner  awaited  them,  which 
was  disposed  of  only  in  time  for  a  hasty  return  to  the 
church.  Without  opportunity  for  rest  or  meditation  or 
prayer,  Dr.  Holdich  was  obliged  to  enter  the  pulpit  and 
preach  under  an  embarrassment  far  greater,  doubtless, 
to  his  own  consciousness  than  apparent  to  the  congre- 
gation. Dr.  James  B.  Faulks,  in  his  charming  Glimpses 
of  Methodism  in  Haverstraw,  speaks  most  truly  of  the 
Conference  thus  :  "  The  occasion  was  one  of  lively  in- 
terest to  the  people  hereabouts." 

In  the  autumn  of  our  second  year  one  of  those  domes- 
tic events  occurred  at  the  parsonage  which  are  wont  to 
bring  with  them  new  joys  and  fresh  responsibilities — the 
birth  of  another  son,  who  took  the  name  of  his  maternal 


Chronological  Glimpses.  151 


grandfather,  Horatio  Moses.  At  suitable  age  he  entered 
the  New  York  University,  and,  successfully  pursuing  the 
studies  of  the  regular  course,  was  graduated  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1881.  He  early  became  converted,  and  is  now  a 
member  and  officer  of  the  Roseviile  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  Newark,  N.  J.  Not  feeling  called  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  engaged  in 
business,  saying  to  Dr.  Buttz,  who  invited  him  to  enter 
Drew  Seminary,  and  to  other  friends,  that  he  believed 
the  Church  had  as  much  need  of  good,  Christian  busi- 
ness men  as  of  good,  faithful  ministers.  His  happy 
marriage  to  Miss  Essy  A.,  daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  S. 
Morriss,  occurred  April  24.  1884.  Two  sprightly  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  a  daughter,  enliven  their  cheerful  home. 

It  would  be  gratifying  to  mention  here  some  names 
of  the  many  excellent  families  embraced  in  this  charge, 
as  I  found  and  left  it,  but  this  has  been  rendered  quite 
needless  by  the  befitting  record  made  of  them  in  the 
Giimpsts  of  Dr.  Faulks,  which  can  never  cease  to  be  of 
great  historical  value  to  all  whose  lot  has  been  or  may 
yet  be  cast  in  that  locality.  Though  more  than  a  gen- 
eration has  passed  since  our  leave-taking,  memory  still 
lingers  about  its  loved  associations  and  finds  refreshment 
in  their  sweet,  delightsome  odors.  I  left  sixty-five  pro- 
bationers, and  during  the  last  year  had  baptized  forty- 
three  adults  and  fifteen  children. 

Clinton  Street,  Newark,  N.  J.,  i860,  1861. 
My  appointment  to  this  church,  unlike  almost  every 
other  one  in  my  long  ministry,  was  prearranged  by  a 
written  call  of  the  official  board  and  my  own  written 
consent,  subject,  of  course,  to  the  action  of  the  bishop. 
Its  membership  of  four  hundred,  with  fifty-eight  proba- 
tioners, widely  scattered  in  one  hundred  different 
streets  of  the  city,  meant  plenty  of  work  for  the  head 


152  Sunset  Memories. 


and  heart,  the  voice  and  hands  and  feet  of  the  pastor. 
Some  untoward  surroundings  and  a  serious  difficulty 
within  conspired  to  rob  the  year  of  its  highest  measure 
of  hoped-for  success.  "  For  a  great  door  and  effectual 
is  opened  unto  me,  and  there  are  many  adversaries." 
Paul  could  brave  "  many,"  but  one  was  an  overmatch 
for  me,  as  he  had  been  five  years  before  for  an  honored 
predecessor,  the  Rev.  Alexander  L.  Brice,  one  of  the 
purest  and  best  of  men. 

Early  in  my  second  year  I  felt  constrained  to  notify 
the  official  board  of  the  church  of  my  purpose  to  resign 
as  its  pastor — a  pur])ose  deliberately  formed,  but  without 
any  plans  wliatever  having  been  made  in  reference  to 
the  future.  "  By  faith  Abraham,  when  he  was  called, 
.  .  .  went  out,  not  knowing  whitlTcr  he  went."  In  this 
spirit  I  had  determined  to  "  go  out,"  trusting  in  Abra- 
ham's God  for  direction  and  protection.  Soon  after  I 
received  the  following  letter  embodying  the  action  of 
the  church  through  its  official  representatives,  the  letter 
being  signed  by  James  C.  Ludlow,  a  jirominent  and  ex- 
cellent officer,  who  a  few  years  later  was  called  to  serve 
the  city  as  its  honored  mayor: 

"Newark,  June  i8,  1861. 
"  Rev.  N.  Vansant — Dear  Brother  :  At  a  joint  meet- 
ing of  the  official  boards  of  the  Clinton  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  held  in  the  lecture  room  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  seventeenth  instant,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

'  U'7iereas,  Rev.  N.  Vansant,  pastor  in  charge  of  the 
Clinton  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  for  certain 
reasons  has  in  contemplation  the  resigning  of  the  pastor- 
ate of  said  church, 

'  Rfsol-i't-d,  That  Brother  Vansant  has  our  heartfelt 
sympathies,  and  we  regret  that  any  causes  should  have 


Chronological  Glimpses.  153 


occurred  to  produce  such  action  ;  and  we  hereby,  see- 
ing the  interests  of  our  church  will  very  much  suffer  by 
such  resignation,  most  earnestly  request  him  to  recon- 
sider the  matter  and  consent  to  remain  with  us  as  pastor, 
and  we  do  pledge  him  our  hearty  cooperation. 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  secretary  be  instructed  to  send  a 
copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the  pastor,  and  also  a  copy 
to  the  presiding  elder  of  this  district.' 

"J.AMES  C.  Ludlow,  Secretary." 

Such  a  paper,  conveying  such  expressions  of  sympa- 
thy and  confidence,  coyld  not  fail  to  prove  very  grate- 
ful to  my  feelings;  but  the  purpose  to  dissolve  my 
pastoral  connection  with  that  church  had  become  so 
fixed  that  I  could  not  honorably  or  conscientiously  ac- 
cede to  the  request  of  its  united  office-bearers,  much  as 
I  respected  and  loved  them.  Of  course,  I  would  con- 
sult my  presiding  elder,  the  Rev.  James  M.  Tuttle, 
which  I  did,  conferring  also  with  my  former  presiding 
elder.  Dr.  John  S.  Porter,  of  the  adjoining  Rahway 
District. 

Following  my  purpose  to  resign,  an  unexpected 
vacancy  occurred  at  the  First  Church,  Rahway,  by  the 
appointment  of  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Robert  B.  Yard,  as  a 
chaplain  in  the  army.  Was  this  a  providential  opening 
to  me  ?  So  it  seemed.  Dr.  Porter,  who,  of  course,  was 
glad  to  have  a  supply  for  this  vacancy,  corresponded 
with  Bishop  Ames,  Elder  Tuttle  concurring,  the  result 
being  the  following  letter  from  the  bishop  : 

''Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  20,  1861. 
"  Rev.  X.  Vansant — Dear  Brother :  Having  been  in- 
formed by  letter  from  Dr.  J.  S.  Porter  that,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  himself  and  Brother  J.  M.  Tuttle,  the  interests 
of  the  Church  will  be  promoted  by  a  change  of  your 


154 


Sunset  Memories/ 


appointment  from  Clinton  Street,  Newark,  to  the  First 
Church,  Rahway,  and  that  tlie  change  will  also  be 
agreeable  to  yourself,  the  change  is  therefore  hereby 
made,  and  you  will  immediately  on  receipt  of  this  take 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  First  Church  in  Rahway. 
May  the  Lord  be  with  you  and  bless  you  and  make  you 
a  blessing  in  your  new  field  of  labor  ! 

"  Yours  truly, 

"E.  R.  Ames." 

An  interesting  fact  in  the  history  of  Clinton  Street 
Church  is  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Dr.,  afterward 
Bishop,  Gilbert  Haven  as  my  immediate  successor, 
having  been  employed  temporarily  to  fill  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  our  removal.  At  the  next  Conference 
the  redoubtable  and  eloquent  Rev.  William  P.  Corbit 
became  its  pastor  and  served  it  faithfully  for  two  years; 
but  the  zenith  of  its  healthful  prosperity  seems  to  have 
been  reached  under  the  pastorate  of  niy  immediate 
predecessor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  K.  Burr.  From 
that  time  forward  it  passed  through  varying  fortunes 
until  the  spring  of  1881,  when  its  name  appeared  for  the 
last  time  in  the  Conference  Minutes.  Its  commodious 
church  edifice,  handsomely  fitted  up  at  large  expense, 
was  sold  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  .Vssociation,  by 
which  it  has  since  been  occu])ied  in  carrying  on  its  use- 
ful work.  For  several  years  uncontrollable  circum- 
stances had  been  foreshadowing  its  dissolution  or  its 
removal,  chief  among  these  circumstances  being  its 
location  in  the  business  center  of  the  city  and  its  close 
proximity  to  Central  Church,  with  its  greater  wealth  and 
stronger  organization. 

One  of  the  most  noteworthy  institutions  of  Clinton 
Street  Church  was  its  large  and  flourishing  Sunday  school, 
under  the  efficient  superintendence  of  Brother  W.  D. 


Chronological  Glimpses.  155 


Cowan,  who  yet  lives  to  recall  with  grateful  joy  the  fruit 
of  his  industrious  toil.  The  following  clause  in  a  re- 
port concerning  this  church,  adopted  by  the  Newark 
Conference  in  1881,  applies  particularly  to  its  Sunday 
school  :  "It  has  given  to  the  Church  nine  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  namely,  G.  H.  Winans,  S.  L.  Baldwin,  J.  B. 
Faulks,  D.  R.  Lowrie,  H.  IM.  Simpson,  T.  H.  Jacobus, 
W.  S.  Gallaway,  of  this  Conference  ;  Milton  Relyea,  of 
the  New  Jersey  Conference  ;  and  Henry  Still,  of  the  New 
York  East  Conference." 

In  closing  this  sketch  I  am  doubly  glad  to  put  on  rec- 
ord an  important  interview  between  my  unnamed  "  ad- 
versary "  and  myself — doubly  glad  because  of  the  honor 
which  it  reflected  on  him  and  the  comfort  which  it 
yielded  me.  It  occurred  during  the  annual  session  of 
our  Conference  at  Elizabeth  in  1865.  Calling  me  aside, 
he  referred  to  the  difficulty  at  Clinton  Street,  and  then 
said,  "  The  fault  in  that  matter  was  mine,  not  yours."  I 
answered,  "Yes;  but  you  have  noticed  during  the  years 
that  have  since  passed  that  I  have  manifested  no  spirit 
of  revenge,  but  have  treated  you  with  uniform  kindness." 
"  Ah,"  he  replied,  "  that  has  been  my  greatest  trouble. 
Had  you  shown  a  disposition  to  fight  I  could  have  borne 
it;  but  your  kindness  has  been  a  continual  reproach  and 
sting.  Let  the  hatchet  be  buried."  That  seemed  like  a 
dying  confession,  giving  to  me  a  welcome  relief,  and  a 
far  greater  to  himself.  We  shook  hands  and  parted  in 
peace,  never  to  meet  again  in  this  world,  his  death  fol- 
lowing not  long  afterward.  During  the  same  Conference 
he  sought  a  similar  interview  with  Brother  Brice,  to 
whom  he  made  similar  admissions,  with  a  like  happy 
result. 

These  instances  were  but  added  verifications  of  Isa. 
xlix,  23.  Says  Dr.  Kitto:  "Thirty  years  ago  ...  I  put 
my  mark  upon  this  passage  in  Isaiah,  '  I  am  the  Lord: 


156 


Sunset  Memories. 


for  they  shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait  for  me.'  Of  the 
many  books  I  now  possess,  the  Bible  that  bears  that 
mark  is  the  only  one  of  them  all  that  belonged  to  me  at 
that  time.  It  now  lies  before  me.  ...  I  believed  it 
then;  but  I  know  it  now  ;  and  I  can  write  piobatuin  est, 
with  my  whole  heart,  over  against  the  symbol  which  that 
mark  is  to  me,  of  my  ancient  faith.  '  They  shall  not  be 
ashamed  that  wait  for  me.'  ...  It  [the  word  'wait']  is 
but  a  monosyllable  ;  but  it  is  fuller  of  meaning  than  any 
other  word  in  the  language,  and  it  is  applicable  to  all 
ages  and  to  all  circumstances." 

First  Church,  Rahway,  N.  J.,  1861,  1862. 

Few,  if  any,  of  tlie  Northern  cities  were  more  seriously 
affected  in  business  by  the  war  than  Rahway,  N.  J.  Its 
chief  and  almost  sole  industry  was  tlie  manufacture  of 
carriages  for  tlie  Southern  markets,  which  was  prostrated 
beyond  recovery  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  Of 
necessity,  therefore,  the  salary  in  my  new  charge  would 
be  small ;  but  after  all  the  matter  of  salary  is  far  from 
being  the  stintininit  honuiii  or  chief  good  in  the  life  of  a 
Christian  pastor,  though  the  tendency  of  the  times  is  to 
exalt  it  to  this  unmerited  position. 

Never,  perhaps,  was  a  ciuirch  in  sudden,  embarrassing 
poverty  more  appreciative,  hoi)eful,  and  generous  than 
tlie  one  which  I  was  now  so  strangely  called  to  serve.  A 
choice  list  of  names,  rei)resenting  families  or  individuals, 
1  find  indelibly  written  on  memory's  exjianded  tablet, 
among  tlicm  the  following :  Osborn,  Terrill,  Price, 
Simpson,  C.ihby,  Pease,  Swaim,  Putnam,  Stone,  Havi- 
land,  Ryno,  I'latt,  (  lark,  Marsh,  Dubois. 

While  here,  an  unusual  \  isitation  of  Providence  came 
to  the  parsonage  in  the  birth  of  twin  daughters,  who  took 
the  twin  names  of  Hattie  and  Hetty,  after  two  dear 
friends  at  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Harriet  Cleveland  and  Mrs.. 


Chronological  Glimpses.  157 


Hetty  Faulks.  Tlicy  were  so  niucli  alike  in  size,  com- 
plexion, and  features  that  we  were  often  puzzled  to  call 
either  by  the  right  name  in  the  absence  of  the  otiier, 
though  when  together  there  could  be  seen  on  close  in- 
spection a  shade  of  difference.  Did  we  idolize  tlicm  ? 
Perhaps;  but,  whether  such  was  the  case  or  not,  after 
three  beautiful  summers  of  life  the  one  was  taken  and 
the  other  left.  Hetty  sleeps  with  her  mother  in  lovely 
"  Cedar  Lawn,"  but  a  short  remove  from  the  low-mur- 
muring Passaic  on  tlie  outskirts  of  the  mother's  native 
Paterson.  Hattie  survives,  the  devoted  wife  of  Mr.  H.  M. 
Wagner  and  mother  of  three  affectionate  children,  two 
daughters  and  a  son,  by  whom  theirgoodly  home  at  1809 
Bolton  Street,  Baltimore,  Md.,  is  cheered  and  gladdened. 

The  closing  months  of  this  pastorate  were  devoted  to 
special  revival  services,  which  resulted  in  several  wel- 
come accessions  to  the  church;  but  the  strain  of  inces- 
sant labor  in  speaking  and  singing  in  a  damp  basement 
brought  upon  the  pastor,  unconsciously  to  himself,  a 
state  of  chronic  hoarseness,  which  threatened  serious 
results,  and  which,  in  fact,  during  most  of  the  next  two 
years  greatly  crippled  him  in  his  work. 

As  the  time  of  Conference  approached  a  "call  "  from 
Bethel  Church,  Staten  Island,  was  received  and  favor- 
ably responded  to  on  the  usual  condition  of  e})iscopal 
consent.  The  appointment  was  made,  and  I  entered 
hopefully  upon  my  new  charge. 

Bethel,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  1862-64. 
Here  my  predecessor  was  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Kelley, 
who  "in  labors  more  abundant"  and  corresponding 
fruitage  was  a  worthy  successor  of  Paul.  He  was  the 
father  of  Dr.  W.  V.  Kelley,  the  scholarly  Editor  of  the 
Methodist  Revim\  and  was  a  man  of  whom  any  son 
might  justly  feel  proud. 

n 


158 


Sunset  Memories. 


The  war  fever  ran  liigh,  making  it  needful  for  me  in 
tliat  eminently  conservative  locality  to  stand  up  in  pri- 
vate and  in  public  for  the  government,  which,  of  course, 
evoked  some  criticism  and  oi)position,  not  to  say  threats 
of  violence.  The  nearest  approach  to  this  last  was  the 
wish  of  one  of  our  neighbors,  vigorously  expressed, 
that  he  might  see  me  "strung  up  on  a  sour  apple  tree." 
The  unpoetic  wish  was  never  gratified,  and  I  have 
long  since  forgiven  the  ill-wislier.  Wiiile  many  were  in 
secret  or  open  sympathy  with  the  Rebellion,  the  home 
government  was  not  without  its  heroic,  outspoken  sup- 
porters, prominent  among  wliom  were  Messrs.  John  S. 
Sleight,  Elias  P.  Manee,  Alfred  H.  Taylor,  S.  W.  Cronk, 
W.  A.  Brown,  S.  L.  Hopping,  and  others.  Indeed,  to 
tl\e  praise  of  IJethel  C'iiurcli  and  congregation  be  it  said 
tiiat,  although  a  large  majority  of  them  belonged  to  the 
party  not  in  power,  they  all,  with  rare  exceptions,  re- 
frained from  active  opposition  to  the  Union  cause  or  to 
the  pastor  in  his  earnest  defense  of  it.  As  loyal  to  both 
I  mention  Messrs.  Epliraim  J.  Totten  and  otliers  of  the 
same  family  name,  M.  S.  Taylor,  the  Spragues,  Manees, 
Ryders,  Jolines,  Weir,  Moore,  Cole,  Graham,  and 
Turner. 

During  the  reign  of  the  bloody  draft  riot  in  New 
York  in  July,  1863,  a  sensation  amounting  to  a  veritable 
scare  was  produced  by  a  rumor  that  the  rioters  were 
on  their  way  to  Tottenville.  The  appalling  message, 
"The  rioters  are  coming!  the  rioters  are  coming!" 
passed  rapidly  from  mouth  to  mouth,  till  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood was  wrought  up  to  a  ferment  of  tremendous  ex- 
citement. Our  good  neighbor,  Mr.  Taylor,  living  nearly 
opposite,  rushed  over  to  the  parsonage  and,  repeating  the 
rumor,  advised  us  to  come  at  once  to  his  house,  saying 
that  the  rioters  would  be  sure  to  raid  the  parsonage  first. 
So,  taking  his  advice,  we  vacated  our  own  home  and 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


159 


took  slicltcr  in  his.  Jiul  the  riiniur,  tliough  not  an  in- 
tended hoax,  was  a  totally  false  alarm,  without  the  least 
foundation  except  in  the  heated  imagination  of  its  orig- 
inators. 

The  troublesome  hoarseness  of  which  I  have  spoken 
continued  without  abatement  during  my  fust  year  at 
Bethel,  making  necessary  the  help  of  an  assistant  during 
the  second  ye;;r.  Hap|)ily,  that  assistant  was  found  in 
Brother  John  C'oyle,  a  )oung  local  preacher  and  school- 
teacher, who  was  awaiting  a  ijrovidenlial  opening  to  the 
itinerant  work.  That  oi)ening  had  now  come,  and  he 
entered  it  in  good  heart  and  hope.  Our  plan  for  preach- 
ing was  a  sermon  by  each  of  us  on  the  Sabbath,  under 
which  15rother  Coyle,  by  his  exemjilary  jjiety,  social 
spirit,  and  excellent  preaching,  rendered  himself  both 
popular  and  useful.  Afterward,  while  stationed  at  St. 
Luke's,  Newark,  he  was  transferred  to  the  California 
Conference,  where  his  successful  ministry  has  proved  a 
happy  fulfillment  of  its  early  promise.  He  was  a  del- 
egate to  the  General  Conference  of  1896.  Under  the 
skillful  treatment  of  Dr.  R.  Hunter,  of  New  York,  my 
stubborn  hoarseness  jjassed  away,  and  the  vocal  organs 
became  (piite  restored  to  their  normal  condition. 

A  twofold  improvement  was  put  upon  the  parsonage 
propert) — the  addition  of  a  small  extension  at  the  rear 
of  the  dwelling,  and  the  stocking  of  the  large  garden 
with  blackberry  plants,  vines,  and  fruit  trees  by  means 
of  a  "bee."  Not  far  from  this  property  stood  the  beau- 
tiful home  of  Chaplain  John  L.  T,enhart,  whose  sudden 
death  on  the  Ciniibfilaiid  in  Hampton  Roads  is  well  and 
sadly  remembered,  and  whose  monuinent  in  Bethel 
Cemetery  fitly  perpetuates  the  story  of  his  noble  life  and 
heroic  death.  The  parsonage  here  became  the  birth- 
place of  our  youngest  child,  a  precious  daughter  who 
took  the  name  of  Amelia  Foster,  after  the  estimable  lady 


160 


Sunset  Memories. 


whom  Chaplain  Lenhart  had  left  as  his  affianced  bride, 
but  whom  he  never  returned  to  take  to  be  his  wedded 
wife.  Our  "  Mellie  "  is  now  Mrs.  P.  T.  Wood,  of  Rose- 
ville,  Newark,  and  ihe  happy  mother  of  a  bright,  promis- 
ing boy,  two  others  having  recently  passed  away. 

My  successor  was  the  Rev.  Edward  W.  Adams,  who, 
in  1867,  was  transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Conference 
after  an  honorable  record  among  us. 

Jersey  City  (Paterson)  District,  1864-68. 
Among  the  events  of  the  Conference  session  held  in 
Market  Street  Church,  Paterson,  March  16,  1864,  and 
presided  over  by  Bishop  Simpson,  were  my  election  as 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  and  my  appoint- 
ment to  the  presiding  eldership  of  Jersey  City  (then 
called  Paterson)  District.  The  former  was  purely  spon- 
taneous, no  one  to  my  knowledge  having  been  solicited 
directly  or  indirectly  to  cast  his  ballot  for  me.  Indeed, 
"  from  youth  to  hoary  age  "  I  have  been  kept  in  blissful 
ignorance  of  the  politician's  art  in  both  Church  and 
State,  though  the  cost  of  such  ignorance  has  doubtless 
sometimes  been,  in  my  case  as  in  others,  a  loss  of  prefer- 
ment. 

Our  residence  for  the  first  half  of  the  year  was  fixed 
at  Paterson ;  but  in  the  autumn  it  was  changed  to 
Nyack-on-the-Hudson,  where  not  long  after  a  deep  sor- 
row came  to  us  in  the  sickness  by  scarlet  fever  of  our 
whole  family  of  seven  children,  one  of  whom,  our  little 
Hetty,  of  three  years  and  two  months,  was  taken  from 
us.  It  was  no  comfort  when,  on  his  first  visit,  the  family 
physician,  Dr.  Hasbrouck,  more  noted  for  his  skill  than 
for  his  gentleness,  said  to  the  anxious  mother,  "Madam, 
it  is  scarlet  fever,  and  no  telling  where  it  will  end  ;  bet- 
ter have  had  smallpox  break  out  in  your  family." 

To  bury  our  dead  a  trip  of  twenty-four  miles  across 


Chronological  Glimpses.  161 


the  country  to  Paterson  was  made  on  runners,  the  con- 
veyance having  been  furnislied  through  the  kindness  of 
our  sympathizing  neighbor,  Brother  J.  W.  Towt,  the 
pastor  at  Nyack,  the  Rev.  Richard  B.  Lockwood,  taking 
skillful  management  of  the  team.  Appropriate  services 
were  held  at  Market  Street  Church,  under  direction  of 
the  pastor,  the  Rev.  James  M.  Freeman,  special  and 
fervent  prayers  being  offered  for  the  recovery  of  the 
sick  ones  at  home.  Was  it  a  mere  coincidence  that  on 
returning  home  we  found  them  all  improving,  and,  espe- 
cially, those  in  greatest  apparent  danger  when  we  left, 
decidedly  better  ?  Or  was  it  an  instance  of  divinely 
answered  prayer  according  to  the  teaching  of  James  v, 
16-1S?    We  prefer  to  believe  the  latter. 

The  General  Conference  held  in  Philadelphia  during 
the  month  of  May,  1864,  was  a  very  exciting  one,  the 
nation  being  still  in  the  throes  of  the  gigantic  civil  war. 
The  Newark  Conference  delegation  consisted  of  Isaac 
W.  Wiley,  Nicholas  Vansant,  Alexander  L.  Brice,  Jona- 
than T.  Crane,  and  Stacy  W.  Hilliard,  all  of  whom,  ex- 
cept the  last,  were  elected  on  the  first  ballot  in  the 
order  named. 

Of  choice,  the  writer  was  assigned  to  the  Committee 
on  Slavery,  where,  by  invitation  of  Dr.  Daniel  Wise,  its 
secretary,  he  acted  part  of  the  time  as  his  assistant. 
An  elaborate  report  of  this  committee  closed  with  a 
recommendation  that  the  General  Rule  on  slavery  be  so 
'  changed  as  to  read:  "  Slaveholding;  buying  or  selling 
slaves;  "  and  the  report  was  adopted  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority — 207  to  9 — a  consummation  devoutly 
wished,  and  which  had  been  labored  and  prayed  for  by 
hundreds  of  great  and  good  men  who  had  died  without 
the  sight.  That  was  more  than  a  proud  day — it  was  a 
sublime  epoch  in  the  progress  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church! 


162 


Sunset  Memories. 


Two  days  after  this  action  came  the  public  reading 
of  that  wonderful  autograph  letter  from  President  Lin- 
coln in  which  he  paid  so  emphatic  a  compliment  to  the 
Methodist  Church-^a  letter  which  mu;;t  go  down  to 
posterity  as  an  official  tribute  unsurpassed  in  its  wise 
discriminations  and  its  honest  emi)hatic  acknowledg- 
ments, as  also  in  its  terse  and  graceful  composition. 
Happily,  that  autograpli  letter  is  in  possession  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Harris,  of  New  York,  a  son  of  Bishop  Harris, 
who  at  that  time  was  secretary  of  tlie  General  Confer- 
ence. 

A  i)leasant  episode  early  in  tlie  session  was  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  deputation  to  the  (ieneral  Conference  of 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch  and  its  cortlial 
reciprocation.  The  de])utation,  as  publislied  in  tlie 
Journal,  consisted  of  James  Hill,  Nicholas  Vansant,  John 
W.  Armstrong,  Daniel  Wise,  and  James  Cunningham. 
Our  visit  to  that  Conference  was  lieartily  welcomed  and 
mutually  enjoyed,  resulting  in  tiie  a])])ointment  by  it 
of  a  similar  deputation  to  our  body  and  its  cordial 
reception  a  few  days  later.  Two  of  that  deputation, 
the  Revs.  J.  P.  Campbell  and  A.  A\'.  A\'ayman,  were  at 
the  same  session  of  tlieir  Ceneral  Conference  elected 
bisiiops;  and  I'ishop  A\'a\man,  in  our  occasional  meet- 
ings afterward,  was  wont  to  make  pleasant  reference  to 
our  first  acquaintance  at  tiiat  time. 

It  was  at  tiiis  General  Conference  tliat  the  term  of 
pastoral  service  was  extended  from  two  years  to  three; 
that  advanced  action  was  taken  on  the  subject  of  lay 
delegation;  that  tlie  C^hurcli  Extension  Society  was 
organized  by  tiie  a(Ioi)tion  of  a  carefully  prepared  con- 
stitution; and  that  various  other  important  changes 
were  made  in  the  Discipline,  most  of  them  recom- 
mended by  the  Committee  on  Revisals,  of  which  the 
writer  had  tlie  i)leasure  of  being  a  member.    Three  new 


Chronological  Glimpses.  163 


bishops  were  elected,  Clark,  Thomson,  and  Kingsley,  the 
leader  of  our  delegation,  Dr.  Wiley,  and  the  Rev.  D.  D. 
Lore,  late  a  member  of  Newark  Conference,  being 
elected  to  the  editorial  chairs,  respectively,  of  the  Ladies 
Repository  and  the  Northern  Christian  Advocate. 

The  home  of  my  brother  Samuel,  then  pastor  of 
Third  Street  Church,  Camden,  furnished  delightful  en- 
tertainment to  Dr.  Jonathan  T.  Crane  and  myself  dur- 
ing the  session.  On  one  Sabbath  morning  his  pulpit 
was  filled  by  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  whose  sermon, 
founded  on  Gal.  i,  ir,  12,  was  a  masterpiece  of  sur- 
passing logic  and  eloquence,  unction,  and  power,  lifting 
the  congregation  to  the  highest  pitch  of  religious  en- 
thusiasm, and  more  deeply  affecting  the  writer  tlian  any 
other  sermon  before  or  since,  rendering  him  utterly 
powerless  to  close  the  service  as  had  been  arranged  by 
the  pastor. 

But  a  few  weeks  after  entering  upon  the  district  work 
in  March  a  sad  bereavement  came  to  one  of  our 
charges,  New  Prospect,  now  Waldwick,  in  the  death  of 
its  beloved  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  M.  Burroughs, 
April  17,  1864.  The  funeral  discourse  was  preached 
by  the  writer  from  Phil,  i,  20  :  "  Christ  shall  be  magni- 
fied in  my  body,  whetlier  it  be  by  life  or  by  death." 

During  my  term  of  four  years  on  tliis  district  five 
different  preachers  were  "employed  by  tlie  elder"  who 
afterward  became  useful  members  of  the  Conference, 
namely,  Merritt  C.  Reed,  Albert  Van  Deusen,  Hiram 
Mattison,  Enoch  V.  King,  and  Thomas  H.  Jacobus. 
The  first,  second,  and  last  were  employed  as  local 
preachers  to  supply  \acancies  in  the  regular  way;  the 
other  two  were  received  from  other  denominations,  each 
through  a  Quarterly  Conference,  and  tlien  employed  to 
fill  vacancies.  Brother  King  having  been  received  from 
the  Baptist  Church,  through  the  Nyack  Quarterly  Con- 


164 


Sunset  Memories. 


ference,  was  appointed  to  Piermont  as  a  supply,  where 
an  extensive  revival  attended  his  labors.  At  the  en- 
suing Annual  Conference,  his  ordination  having  been 
recognized,  he  was  admitted  on  trial,  and  two  years 
later  received  into  full  connection.  While  at  Piermont 
a  sore  affliction  came  to  his  home  in  the  death  of  a  pre- 
cious child. 

Dr.  Mattison's  return  to  his  old  Church  home  from 
the  Independent  Methodist  Church  is  fully  related  in 
his  Life  and  Character,  by  the  writer,  and  need  not  here 
be  repeated.  He  was  admitted  and  recognized  as  a  local 
preacher  by  the  Palisades  Quarterly  Conference  in 
August,  1865,  and  by  unanimous  wish  of  Trinity  Church, 
Jersey  City,  was  at  once  appointed  to  supply  the  va- 
cancy occasioned  by  the  election  of  Dr.  Monroe  as  sec- 
retary of  the  new  Church  Extension  Society.  At  the 
next  session  of  Newark  Conference  he  was  received  on 
trial,  and  a  year  later,  under  a  new  rule  of  the  Disci- 
pline, admitted  to  full  membership. 

The  Conference  of  1864  having  witnessed  the  strange 
fact  of  no  admissions  on  trial  for  lack  of  room,  there 
followed,  two  years  later,  the  correspondingly  strange 
fact  of  no  candidates  for  full  connection.  Yet  during 
the  latter  session,  held  at  Washington,  N.  J.,  there  stood 
before  the  altar  of  the  church  two  notable  men,  to  re- 
ceive the  suffrages  of  the  body;  the  one  for  a  recogni- 
tion of  orders  after  examination,  without  a  reimposition 
of  hands,  the  other  for  election  and  ordination  as  a 
deacon  after  examination,  with  the  laying  on  of  hands. 
Both  were  tall,  slender,  erect ;  the  one  dark  of  complex- 
ion, the  other  light;  tlie  one  ])ast  middle  life,  the  other 
young;  the  one  well-cultured  without  the  culture  of  the 
schools,  the  other  educated  through  the  liberal  culture 
of  school  and  college  curriculum;  the  one  already  dis- 
tinguished as  a  prolific  writer,  an  able  debater,  and  an 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


165 


eloquent  preacher,  the  other  yet  to  reap  distinguished 
honors  by  his  convincing,  winning  graces  of  pen  and 
voice  in  the  sanctum  and  the  pulpit;  the  one  widely 
known  by  his  familiar  signature,  H.  Mattison,  the  other 
to  become  more  widely  known  by  the  name  of  William 
V.  Kelley.  To  Bishop  Baker  fell  the  honor  of  conduct- 
ing the  service  of  that  interesting  occasion. 

Besides  the  parsonages  already  spoken  of  as  invaded 
by  death,  another  calls  for  tender  and  appreciative  men- 
tion. The  clear,  gentle,  steady  light  which  illumined 
the  parsonage  at  Rockland  Lake  was  quenclied  in  sud- 
den darkness,  leaving  the  heart  and  home  of  the  hus- 
band, the  Rev.  Alexander  Craig,  in  deepest  sorrow.  A 
daughter  of  the  saintly  Amos  Hoagland  and  wife,  and 
a  sister  of  Mrs.  Henry  A.  Buttz  and  the  Rev.  Warren 
L.  Hoagland,  her  parentage  and  family  relationships 
served  as  a  true  index  to  her  excellent  personal  char- 
acter. Her  death  was  the  beautiful  setting  of  a  bright 
jewel  in  the  Saviour's  crown. 

How  full  of  contrasts  is  the  present  ever-changing 
life  !  Not  far  distant  in  time  or  space  came  nuptial  fes- 
tivities and  joy  at  the  sightly,  capacious  home  of  John 
W.  Towt,  Esq.,  Nyack.  The  bride  was  a  stately,  cul- 
tured daughter,  the  bridegroom  her  scholarly  and  tal- 
ented pastor,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Parsons,  whose  useful 
career  in  the  pulpit,  on  the  platform,  and  in  the  arena 
of  debate  has  become  extensively  known.  True  to  the 
usual  custom  in  all  such  cases,  no  marriage  fee  was  ac- 
cepted; but  after  the  lapse  of  two  and  a  half  decades, 
in  which  sons  and  daughters  had  been  born  and  several 
of  them  had  grown  to  a  noble  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, a  generous  fee  enriched  the  purse  of  the  writer's 
"better  half."  Ours  was  also  the  pleasure  of  officiating 
at  the  happy  marriage  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Johns  and  Miss 
Emma  Cadmus,  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  February  23,  1865. 


166 


Sunset  Memories. 


Washington,  N.  J.,  1868,  1869. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  March  of  1868  at  Plain- 
field,  and  presided  over  by  Bishop  Clark,  I  made 
public  request  not  to  be  continued  in  the  presiding 
eldership,  a  retpiest  which,  as  I  now  review  it,  was  far 
more  unwise  than  wise,  embarrassing  the  bishop  in  his 
cabinet  work  and  forestalling  my  appointment  to  New- 
ark District.  The  outcome  took  us  to  Washington, 
Warren  County,  which  had  risen  to  the  status  of  one 
of  our  prominent  charges  outside  of  the  chief  cities, 
but  where  my  strong  antislavery  record,  as  I  afterward 
found,  had  preceded  me,  to  my  hindrance  in  successful 
work.  Not  that  open  antagonism  by  the  dominating 
Democratic  influence  in  the  church  at  any  time  with- 
stood or  confronted  me,  but  secret  currents  of  that  in- 
fluence operated  to  retard  tlie  wheels  of  progress,  and, 
at  last,  to  "  beseech,"  not  me,  but  tlie  appointing  author- 
ities, that  I  "would  depart  out  of  their  coasts." 

Had  I  preached  politics  in  the  pulpit  or  been  dispu- 
tatious out  of  it  ?  Neither;  nor  can  I  recall  any  in- 
stance of  indiscretion,  unless  the  following  miglit  be  so 
construed,  namely,  illuminating  the  parsonage,  as  a  good 
citizen,  on  occasion  of  a  great  Republican  parade  in  the 
town,  using  for  candlesticks  some  flat  turnips  that  had 
grown  in  a  patch  owned  by  tlie  wealthiest  man  in  the 
church,  who  belonged  to  the  opposite  party.  Should 
that  have  been  considered  a  mortal  offense  in  "  the  land 
of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave?"  After  I  had 
ceased  to  be  his  pastor  and  he  was  dying  of  cancer,  I 
visited  him  at  his  home  and  found  him  cordial,  trustful, 
devout,  awaiting  in  calmness  his  coming  change.  The 
interview  closed  with  a  prayer  as  sincerely  appreciated, 
I  believe,  as  it  was  sincerely  offered.  "  His  loving- 
kindness,  O  how  great!"  overlooking  human  foibles,  for- 


Chronological  Glimpses.  167 


giving  human  sins,  whether  of  ignorance  or  intent, 
sanctifying  human  suffering  to  the  chastening  of  mind 
and  he^irt,  purifying  and  fitting  human  souls  for  God's 
own  sinless  heaven. 

Since  my  pastorate  at  Washington  many  others  have 
passed  away,  while  many  more  remain  whose  names  are 
in  the  book  of  life  but  cannot  be  written  here.  Gradu- 
ally this  church  has  grown  in  numbers  and  strength  to 
such  proportions  as  to  require  and  justify  the  enterprise 
of  a  new  church  edifice,  which  at  this  writing  (in  1896) 
is  in  course  of  erection  under  supervision  of  the  heroic 
l)astor.  Rev.  John  R.  Wright,  and  which  gives  equal 
])romise  of  great  beauty  and  superior  commodiousness. 

Newton  District,  1869-73. 

My  request  of  one  year  before  was  quite  set  aside  by 
Bishop  Scott  at  the  Conference  session  of  1869,  held  in 
Central  Church,  Newark.  The  outcome  was  a  great 
surprise  to  me,  no  liint  of  it  in  advance  having  been  re- 
ceived from  eitlier  bishop  or  presiding  elder;  and,  while 
it  gave  proof  of  continued  official  confidence,  it  sadly 
disturbed  our  comfdit  and  interfered  with  our  conveni- 
ence. Thougli  perhaps  intended  as  a  compliment  and 
not  in  any  wise  a  penalty,  I  could  easily  foresee  that  my 
api)ointment  to  Newton  District  meant  an  abundance  of 
hard  work  and  some  painful  sacrifices  to  which  neither 
health  nor  purse  seemed  at  all  equal.  But  if  "  all's  well 
that  ends  well,"  then  may  we  look  back  with  gratitude 
and  pleasure  upon  our  four  years  of  service  there, 
^ilost  of  our  quarterly  meetings  meant  much  as  to  both 
attendance  and  interest,  revivals  were  numerous,  and 
substantial  progress,  financial  and  spiritual,  crowned  the 
united  labors  of  pastors  and  people. 

As  an  interesting  item  of  history  it  may  be  stated  that 
the  first  District  Conference  in  the  whole  Church  was 


168 


Sunset  Memories. 


held,  under  the  new  provision  of  Discipline,  at  Decker- 
town,  on  Newton  District,  September  25,  26,  1872,  the 
writer  presiding,  and  the  Rev.  John  F.  Dodd  acting  as 
secretary.  By  the  common  verdict  it  was  a  pronounced 
success.  Anotlier  similar  one  was  held  at  Newton, 
February  5,  6,  1S73,  and  was  graced  by  the  welcome 
presence  of  Bishop  Foster,  whose  sermon  and  addresses 
were  listened  to  with  profound  attention  and  interest. 
His  personal  address  to  me  at  llie  district  parsonage,  in 
presence  of  the  preachers  and  law  men  of  the  district,  was 
of  special  interest  to  myself  and  family,  being  rendered 
doubly  surprising  and  weighty  by  the  well-filled  purse 
that  crowned  it.  Added  interest  followed  in  the  read- 
ing by  Brother  Dodd  of  an  appreciative  original  poem 
which  is  still  carefully  preserved. 

During  the  (juadrennium  several  new  churches  were 
built  and  dedicated,  an  average  of  at  least  two  for  each 
year;  besides  which  old  debts  were  either  paid  off  or 
greatly  reduced,  and  good  progress  made  in  building  or 
improving  parsonages  or  relieving  tliem  of  debt.  The 
recently  purchased  district  iiarsonage,  located  at  Ne\\- 
ton,  engaged  a  large  share  of  attention  and  called  forth 
vigorous  efforts  by  jiastors  and  laymen  to  meet  the  finan- 
cial obligations  held  against  it;  nor  did  they  fail  of  a 
fair  measure  of  success. 

Among  the  eminent  ministers  who  rendered  their 
valuable  services  at  our  church  dedications,  were  Bishop 
Janes,  Drs.  John  Milcy  and  Robert  L.  Dashiell,  the  Revs. 
Lewis  R.  Dunn,  James  S.  Chadwick,  John  D.  Blain,  and 
Charles  Farew,  each  of  tliem  preaching  at  one  or  morp 
of  the  following  places:  Hamburg,  Newfoundland,  Ver- 
non, Unionville,  Branchville,  Hurdtown,  Lake  Hopat- 
cong,  and  Dingman's  Ferry  (Riverdale). 

An  interesting  feature  of  a  presiding  elder's  life  on 
this  district  was  his  association  with  the  Sussex:  County 


Chronological  Glimpses.  169 


Bible  Society  in  its  annual  meetings.  Prominent  in  this 
society  were  Judge  R)erson,  ex-tlovernor  Haines,  Dr. 
Ryerson,  etc.,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  through 
whose  inllucncc  such  men  as  the  Hon.  ^\'illiam  E.  Dodge 
and  Dr.  S.  1.  Prime  were  brought  from  New  York  or 
elsewhere  to  address  the  annual  meetings,  thus  giving 
opportunity  to  those  living  remote  from  the  centers  to 
see  and  hear  them.  The  stated  annual  sermon,  however, 
was  preached  (juite  as  often,  to  say  tlie  legist,  by  some 
Methodist  minister  as  by  any  other.  The  secretary  of 
the  society  at  that  time  was  the  Rev.  James  N.  Fitz- 
Gerald,  now  bishop,  who  continued  to  hold  the  office 
while  lie  remained  pastor  at  Newton,  his  successor  in 
the  office  being  one  of  our  ])roniincnt  laymen,  the  Hon. 
Hiram  C.  Clark,  to  whose  faithful  and  efficient  services 
during  the  years  that  have  followed  the  society  has  been, 
and  still  is,  especially  indebted  for  its  success. 

Very  few  parsonages  on  the  district  were  visited 
by  death  during  my  term,  yet  they  were  not  wholly  ex- 
empt. From  the  home  of  Protlier  John  F.  Dodd,  at 
Lafayette,  was  borne  away  a  lo\ely  child,  after  tender 
obsequies  conducted  by  tlie  writer.  At  Hainesville 
the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Cieorge  ().  Carmichael,  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus  March  3,  1872,  and  two  days  after  was  con- 
signed to  his  last  resting  place  amid  deep  regrets  and 
many  tears. 

A  few  pleasant  episodes  occurred  in  lines  matrimonial. 
I  say  ejMsodes,  for  the  solemnization  of  marringe  is 
practicall}-  forfeited  by  one's  appointment  to  the  presid- 
ing eldership,  this  cheerful  sers  ice  being  properly  con- 
fined to  the  pastors,  with  here  or  there  an  excei)tion. 
One  of  these  exceptions  took  me  to  Paterson  to  officiate 
at  the  marriage  of  ()s(  ar  JelTery,  Escp,  of  ^Washington, 
N.  J.,  and  Miss  iMnma  A\'ilde,  of  the  former  place,  her 
pastor,  the  Rev.   Jesse    L.  Plurlbut,    assisting.  The 


170 


Sunset  Memories. 


happy  days  of  nuptial  bliss  elapsing  since  have  been  as 
numerous  as  the  days  themselves. 

Another  exception  occurred  much  nearer  home,  in 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Frank  M.  Hough,  a  leading 
merchant  of  Newton,  as  also  a  prominent,  influential 
member  and  officer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
But  a  few  yards  from  his  own  inviting  home  he  stood 
with  his  handsome  bride  while  the  writer  pronounced 
them  husband  and  wife,  his  pastor,  the  Rev.  Charles  C. 
A\'inans,  assisting  in  other  parts  of  the  ceremony.  The 
nuptial  occasion  was  not  more  delightful  than  the  do- 
mestic happiness  that  followed  has  been  complete. 

Tile  marriage  of  one  of  our  young  townsmen  brought 
me  again  into  pleasant  association  with  the  pastor  just 
named,  this  time  as  his  assistant.  The  comely  bride 
was  Miss  Ella  M.  Gordon,  daughter  of  a  skilled  and  use- 
ful blacksmith  known  and  respected  by  all.  The  bride- 
groom was  a  dexterous,  industrious,  progressive  printer; 
and  the  wedding  was  a  very  pleasant  affair.  Since  then 
Mr.  John  S.  C.ibson  has  risen  to  marked  prominence 
and  influence  as  an  editor,  a  popular  and  eloquent  politi- 
cal speaker,  and  the  incumbent  of  an  important  lucra- 
tive public  ofiice  in  the  city  of  Newark — that  of  comp- 
troller. 

Not  the  least  delightful  of  all  the  occasions  in  this 
line  was  the  marriage  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  Craig  to 
Miss  Ella  Hart,  at  the  genial  home  of  her  brother, 
William  H.  Hart,  Esq.  The  pleasant  day,  the  befitting 
arrangements,  the  quiet  and  select  company,  the  family 
connections  on  either  side,  and  the  character  of  the 
parties  combined  to  give  special  interest  to  the  time 
and  place.  The  very  generous  fee  was  in  keeping  with 
the  man.  The  prominent  position  in  the  Church  since 
held  by  them,  and  the  useful  work  accomplished  are 
well  known. 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


171 


Of  the  happy  homes  and  deliglitfiil  associations  of 
this  large  district  I  am  forbidden  to  write,  except  to 
make  a  bare  record  of  some  names  of  the  sainted  dead  : 
Peter  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Waterloo  ;  Brothers  J.  Osborn, 
Clark,  and  Rose,  of  Stanhope;  Judge  Iliff,  of  Newton; 
Brothers  Bedell  and  S.  H.  Hougli,  of  Branchville; 
Mother  Stoddard,  of  Deckertown  ;  Brother  M.  Wilson,  of 
Wantage;  L.  E.  Elston,  Esq.,  of  I'ort  Jervis;  Brother  S. 
M.  Palmer,  Mrs.  Siierman,  Brotlier  Samuel  Utter  and 
wife,  of  Milford,  Pa.;  Brother  Jesse  Bell  and  Theodore 
Shea,  of  Hainesvillc;  Brother  Timothy  Shea,  of  Walpack; 
Mrs.  Robert  Blair,  of  Johnsonsburg,  and,  \  cry  recentl)'. 
Brother  Joseph  Ay  res,  of  Tranquillity.  Doubtless  many 
otherchoice  spirits  have  ascended  since  those  well-rcmcm- 
bered  days  of  toil  and  triumjjh.  May  the  larger  numbers 
who  still  survive  follow  them  as  they  followed  Christ! 

It  is  a  jjleasure  to  recollect  that  at  least  six  young 
men,  who  afterward,  witii  one  exception,  became  honored 
members  of  Annual  Conferences,  began  their  itinerant 
career  on  this  district  "  under  the  elder  "  during  these 
four  years,  namely,  the  Revs.  Samuel  W.  Ciehrett,  of 
Philadelphia  Conference;  William  Ivikins,  William  Mc- 
Cain, and  John  H.  Timbrell,  of  Newark  Conference; 
Walter  A.  Chadwick,  of  New  York  Conference,  and 
W^illiam  W.  Fellows,  who  changed  denominations. 

For  the  bestof  all  reasons  our  residence  at  Newton  must 
ever  be  held  in  special  and  sacred  remembrance.  Here 
our  children  were  saved  and  brought  into  fellowship  with 
tlie  Church,  some  of  them  under  the  ministry  of  Brother 
FitzGerald,  and  others  under  that  of  Brother  Winans. 

Trinity,  Newar|,,  1873-76. 
Here  we  met  a  cordial  welcome  from  a  generous,  de- 
voted people.    The  reception   at  the   jjarsonage  was 
cheerful  and  hearty. 


172 


Sunset  Memories. 


Here  the  Sunday  scliool  was  an  interesting  and  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  work  of  the  church.  Its  prosperit)',  un- 
der the  efficient  superintendence  of  Brotlier  William  H. 
Fairlie,  suggested>and  made  j)Ossiblc  a  reseating  of  the 
main  room  and  otiier  improvements  in  all  the  basement 
rooms  of  the  church,  by  the  liberal  contributions  of  the 
school.  Among  his  successors  is  the  present  efficient 
superintendent,  Brother  Atlia  B.  Crooks.  Here,  also,  the 
prayer  meetings  were  occasions  of  more  than  the  usual 
interest  and  enjoyment,  a  special  feature  being  the  su- 
]>erior  singing  which  enlivened  them.  For  this  we  were 
indebted  under  God  to  two  of  the  sweetest  prayer  meet- 
ing singers  in  the  land,  Brothers  J.  S.  Morriss  and  C. 
Robshaw.  The  leader.  Brother  Morriss,  displayed  rare 
judgment  and  taste  in  his  selections,  and  both  of  them 
sang  with  a  fcr\  ur  and  unction  which  seemed  to  bring 
heaven  very  near  to  earth  ;  and  as  they  sung  so  they 
prayed.  Here,  too,  the  old-time  class  meetings  were  in 
good  measure  maintained.  The  veteran  leader  of  the 
Sunday  morning  class,  Brother  John  C.  Dennis,  is  well 
remembered,  and,  though  now  dead,  he  yet  speaketh. 
Anotlier  well  attended  and  prosperous  class  had  for  its 
vigorous  leader  ]5rother  Morriss;  and  yet  another  was  in 
charge  of  Brother  Warrick.  Here  was  a  church  around 
whose  beginning  and  early  history  clustered  many  dis- 
tinguished names. 

Here  occurred  a  social  event  of  peculiar  interest  to 
us — the  marriage  of  our  eldest  daughter,  Julia  B.,  to 
Charles  A.  Dennis,  previously  spoken  of.  A  son  of  the 
veteran  leader  above  mentioned,  he  has  been  giving  in 
these  later  years  a  most  tender,  impressive  illustration 
of  the  command,  "  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother," 
both  of  whom,  when  disabled  by  age  and  infirmity, 
found  a  loving  home  in  his  home,  where  each  in  turn 
came  down  to  a  calm  deathbed  "  sustained  and  soothed 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


173 


by  ail  luifaltciing  trust,"  and  whence  each  with  befiitini; 
lioiiors  was  borne  away  to  "  the  house  appointed  for  all 
living."  In  all  the  kindly  ministrations  of  that  home 
toward  the  venerable  pair,  and  singly  toward  the  mother 
after  the  father's  death,  the  daughter-in-law  shared  fully 
and  affectionately  with  the  son. 

Here  we  were  favored  each  year  witli  blessed  revi\  al 
influences,  under  which  precious  souls  in  goodly  num- 
bers were  saved  and  brought  into  the  Church. 

By  the  courtesy  of  the  Newark  Preachers'  Meeting  I 
served  as  its  president  for  two  or  more  successive  years. 
Tlie  weekly  sessions  were  held  in  the  parlors  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  of  which  Dr.  Charles  X.  Sims  was  then 
pastor,  to  whose  regular  attendance  and  strong  influence 
tile  meeting  owed  much  of  its  success.  Some  of  us  re- 
call with  pleasure  tiie  happy  Monday  gatherings  en  jo}  cd 
at  his  table  through  the  generous  urbanity  of  liimsclf 
and  Mrs.  Sims.  An  added  personal  favor  to  me  was  his 
careful  inspection  of  Raclui  ]]'ccpiii^^  for  Ju  r  Cliildicit, 
followed  by  his  a])[)rc<  iative  "  Introduction." 

Here,  just  on  the  e\e  of  our  leaving  for  the  new 
charge,  a  genuine  surprise  came  to  me  in  the  form  of 
an  elegant  upholstered  student's  chair,  which  is  still  do- 
ing good  service  and  is  likely  yet  to  do  for  years  to  come. 

FuLTox  Street,  Elizaiskth,  1876-79. 

Our  appointment  to  this  charge  was  a  new  surprise, 
but  proved  to  be  among  the  happiest  and  best.  That 
it  contained  a  percentage  of  "  peculiar  peoi)le  "  was  not 
strange,  since  to  escape  them  altogether  one  must  needs 
go  quite  out  of  the  world.  AVith  a  comfortable  house, 
a  good-sized  church,  a  large  congregation,  a  strong  offi- 
cial board,  an  interesting  Sunday  school,  and  a  live 
class-attending  membership,  we  had  much  to  encourage 
us  in  our  work  of  faith  and  labor  of  love. 
12 


174 


Sunset  Memories. 


Our  cliildren,  fast  growing  into  early  manhood  and 
womanhood,  found  safe  and  agreeable  companionship 
among  the  many  young  people  of  the  church.  So  strong 
at  length  did  the  young  element  become  that  steps  were 
taken  to  organize  a  young  people's  prayer  meeting.  Did 
any  oppose  it O,  certainly,  a  few  of  the  older  breth- 
ren ;  but  the  meeting  was  quietly  formed  and  proved 
an  eminent  success  in  every  point  of  view.  Each  Sat- 
urday evening  witnessed  the  coming  together  of  a  com- 
pany of  Christian  young  people  ambitious  for  spiritual 
advancement  and  usefulness.  Two  of  the  young  men  of 
that  meeting  afterward  went  forth  under  the  call  of  the 
Spirit  to  devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
in  the  Newark  Conference,  the  roll  of  which  bears  the 
names  of  Andrew  Henry  and  John  McMurray. 

Here  a  coveted  pleasure  came  to  us  through  the  char- 
acteristic kindness  of  our  two  good  friends.  Major  Wil- 
son and  Mr.  P.  H.  Wyckoff,  neither  of  them  a  member 
of  the  church,  but  both  of  them  liberal  supporters,  Mr. 
Wyckoff  being  also  a  trustee.  He  was  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey  as  gen- 
eral freight  agent;  and  Major  Wilson  had  a  heart  and  a 
purse  as  rotund  as  his  handsome  person.  From  the 
former  came  the  happy  surprise  of  round  trip  passes  for 
myself  and  wife  to  the  Centennial  Exhibition  of  1876 
in  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  the  wherewith  from  the 
latter  to  meet  our  boarding  and  incidental  expenses. 
The  problem  that  had  been  puzzling  us  was  now  solved, 
and  we  were  not  slow  in  setting  out  on  our  delightful 
trip  or  tardy  in  our  sight-seeing  of  the  wonders  of  the 
great  Centennial.  The  death  of  Major  Wilson  after  we 
left  the  charge  was  preceded  by  his  genuine  conversion 
and  emphatic  declarations  of  faith  in  Christ. 

I  must  write  of  another  special  friend,  but  can  do  it 
only  with  mingled  joy  and  sadness.    Thomas  Winsor,  a 


Chronological  Glimpses.  175 


cultured  and  brilliant  lawyer,  was  tlio  only  son  of  the 
Rev.  (leorge  \\'insor,  so  long  and  favorably  known  as  a 
minister  of  the  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences. 
The  son  was  a  member  and  officer  of  the  Fulton  .Street 
Church.  The  familiar  ma.xim,  "  Liberal  to  a  fault,"  was 
applicable  to  him  with  p  double  emphasis.  His  lovely 
wife  was  attacked  with  [)ulnionary  disease,  and,  after 
many  alternate  hopes  and  fears,  calmly  entered  into  rest. 
Standing  in  the  pulpit  at  the  funeral,  I  thought  and 
spoke  of  his  only  sister,  Mary,  whose  funeral  services  1 
had  conducted  at  Woodrow,  Staten  Island,  fifteen  years 
before.  This  was  a  new  and  yet  greater  s()rr(Mv.  After 
a  suitable  lapse  of  time  he  sought  and  found  another 
wife,  cultured,  refined,  wealthy,  affectionate.  Alas! 
that  he  should  have  been  caught  in  the  toils  of  the 
drink  habit!  The  rest  is  soon  told.  With  business 
ruined  and  health  broken  down,  he  goes  to  his  widowed 
mothers  home  at  Milford,  Pa.,  to  suffer  a  little  longer 
and  then  die.  several  years  short  of  middle  life.  Was  he 
saved.''  Those  who  were  with  him  in  his  last  sickness 
believe  that  he  was.  on  the  one  only  condition  of  "  re- 
pentance toward  Gotl,  and  faith  toward  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  Largely  through  his  generous  influence  our 
youngest  son  was  able  to  enter  and  pass  through  Dr. 
Pingree's  preparatory  school,  and  afterward  enter  and 
become  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  University,  which 
Mr.  Winsor  was  ever  proud  to  call  his  own  alma  titater. 
Fain  would  we  forget  his  weaknesses  and  failures  and 
think  only  of  his  generous,  noble  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart. 

During  our  term  here  some  needed  repairs  were  put 
upon  the  church  and  a  pressing  indebtedness  canceled, 
thereby  preparing  the  way  for  a  new  parsonage  enter- 
prise, which  was  entered  upon  and  completed  after  our 
departure.    It  is  pleasant  to  remember  that  the  Quar- 


176 


Sunset  Memories. 


tcrly  Conference  of  lliis  cluircli  lionored  itself  in  giving 
local  ineacher's  license  to  one  who  has  since  risen  to 
distinguished  jironilnence  and  usefulness,  the  Rev.  Jona- 
than iM.  Meeker,  1-ih.l).,  now  of  the  Cincinnati  Confer- 
ence. That  he  still  calls  nie  "  pastor  "  seems  not  hu- 
miliating to  him  and  is  accei)ted  as  a  compliment  by  me. 
A  review  of  the  ])rol)ationers'  list  indicates  the  ingath- 
ering of  several  scores  of  souls  during  this  pastorate, 
the  chief  increase  occurring  the  second  year.  The 
names  of  the  many  friends,  devoted  and  true,  whom  we 
left  behind  in  this  growing  charge  can  only  be  remem- 
bered and  cherished,  not  written. 

A\'ould  that  in  these  later  years  the  wolf  of  division 
had  not  entered  to  scatter  the  sheep  of  so  goodly  a  fold! 
Without  attempting  to  locate  the  responsibility,  the  fact  of 
a  serious  wrong  somewhere  is  but  too  obvious.  "United 
we  stand,  divided  we  fall." 

Trtnitv,  Staten   Isl.\nl),  N.  Y.,  1879-82  (Second 
'I'imk). 

Having  reached  and  passed  my  majority  of  absence 
from  this  church,  I  was  appointed  to  it  again,  the  con- 
ditions having  meanwhile,  however,  become  greatly 
altered.  On  the  one  hand,  it  had  been  tapped  by  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and,  on  the  other,  by  Cal- 
vary Presbyterian  Church,  reducing  both  the  member- 
shii>  and  congregation,  especially  the  latter.  The  parson- 
age had  grown  old  and  less  comfortable,  many  of  our 
former  parishioners  had  died  or  moved  away,  while  the 
increase  of  pojiulation  had  been  but  small;  yet  the  status 
of  the  charge  in  i)oint  of  salary  had  risen  many  ])er  cent. 

The  project  of  building  a  new  parsonage,  or  at  least 
greatly  enlarging  and  improving  the  old  one,  soon  be- 
came a  very  live  question,  and  several  meetings  of  the 
official  board  were  held  and  plans  discussed  with  refer- 


Chronological  Glimpses.  177 


ence  to  it;  but  it  became  apparent  at  length  that  the 
great  diversity  of  opinion  among  the  brethren,  though 
tlioroughly  good-natured,  was  proof  that  the  conditions 
were  not  yet  ripe  for  such  a  movement.  So  the  pas- 
tor's advice  to  postpone  the  whole  subject  indefinitely 
was  quietly  accepted  as  the  best  thing  to  be  done. 
The  proper  ripeness  of  conditions  was  reached  a  few 
years  after,  and  a  superb  new  parsonage  took  the  place 
of  the  old. 

The  Sunday  school  session  was  held  the  year  round 
in  the  morning,  and  the  pastor  was  expected  to  serve 
as  teacher  of  the  adult  Bible  class,  which  met  in  one  of 
the  side  rooms  of  the  church.  The  superintendent. 
Brother  A.  C.  Hillyer,  desired  this  arrangement  still 
continued,  which  to  my  mind  seemed  not  a  little  for- 
midable, the  last  hour  before  preaching  having  hitherto 
been  peculiarly  sacred  and  important  to  me  in  the 
study.  I  told  him  of  my  embarrassment,  but  said,  "  I 
am  here  as  pastor  to  serve  the  church  and  the  Sunday 
school  to  the  utmost  of  my  ability,  and  shall  do  it  in 
whatever  way  you  and  the  brethren  may  deem  best." 
Many  were  the  happy  and,  I  trust,  useful  hours  spent 
by  me  in  that  Bible  class. 

There  came  a  time  when  the  room  greatly  needed  re- 
pairing and  refurnishing,  to  provide  the  necessary  funds 
for  which  our  son,  pursuing  his  college  course,  and  other 
members  of  the  class  resolately  set  about  the  work  of 
'  arranging  for  a  concert  of  high  order,  which  in  due  time 
was  held  at  Griffetli's  Hall  and  proved  a  success,  finan- 
cially and  otherwise,  even  beyond  the  highest  expecta- 
tion, the  net  result  being  about  $130.  This  was  expended 
for  the  purpose  designed,  making  the  room  both  com- 
fortable and  attractive,  the  effect  of  these  substantial 
improvements  being  even  yet  apparent. 

As  my  pastoral  term  was  closing  a  now  and  happy 


178 


Sunset  Memories. 


arrangement  was  made  for  the  class  under  which  a  thor- 
oughly competent  layman  would  have  charge  of  it  as 
teacher.  That  layman  was  Captain  Charles  W.  Ken- 
nedy, a  cultured,  consecrated  Christian  gentleman  with 
few  equals  in  any  church.  Both  he  and  the  excellent 
superintendent  are  now  fast  becoming  veterans  in  their 
respective  lines  of  work. 

While  here,  there  came  to  reside  among  us  a  dis'tin- 
guished  and  venerable  couple,  the  Rev.  John  Robinson 
and  wife,  he  being  a  superannuate  of  the  Erie  Conference, 
in  which  when  younger  he  had  been  a  man  of  great 
power,  physically,  intellectually,  and  spiritually,  jjlain 
traces  of  which  power  were  manifest  in  his  old  age.  His 
great  familiarity  with  the  Bible  enabled  him  to  recite 
his  scripture  lessons  with  closed  book  when  about  to 
preach.  His  sermons,  prayers,  and  testimonies  were  a 
benediction,  as  were  also  the  presence,  testimonies,  and 
prayers  of  his  saintly  wife.  They  resided  with  their 
son.  Dr.  S.  Robinson,  an  eminent  physician  whose  kind- 
nesses to  us  personally  we  shall  never  be  able  to  repay. 

A  noteworthy  event  was  the  visit  of  Drs.  Hurst  and 
Fowler  in  the  interest  of  Drew  Seminary,  of  which  the 
former  was  at  the  time  president.  This  was  the  church 
from  the  pastorate  of  which  he  had  gone,  several  years 
before,  to  take  charge  of  our  theological  school  work  in 
Cermany.  His  old  friends  at  Trinity  were  glad  to  see 
and  hear  him  again;  and  tliey  gave  a  hearty  welcome  to 
Dr.  Fowler,  as  one  witli  whom  they  h.ad  become  ac- 
quainted through  his  editorship  of  The  CJirisfian  Allo- 
cate, though  they  had  never  before  heard  or  seen  him. 
He  jireached  on  Sunday  evening,  Dr.  Hurst  having 
preached  in  the  morning;  and  the  reader  may  be  sure 
there  wns\igorous  "begging"  at  each  service  on  that 
niemoral)lc  day.  Part  of  the  time  they  v/ere  entertained 
at  the  parsonage,  and  afterward  at  the  more  commodious 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


179 


home  of  Brother  A.  C.  Hillyer,  the  sequel  but  a  few 
years  later  showing  that  we  had  been  entertaining  two 
coming  bishops  "  unawares." 

Although  no  such  extensive  revival  attended  this  sec- 
ond pastorate  as  had  crowned  the  first,  yet  each  year, 
especially  the  second,  witnessed  the  conversion  of  a 
considerable  number. 

Here  came  another  farewell  surprise,  tliis  time  a  double 
one,  enriching  the  hand  of  the  pastor's  wife  with  a  beau- 
tiful gold  watch,  and  investing  his  own  person  with  a 
handsome  wrapper  for  use  in  the  study  and  the  home. 
How  true  that  "there  is  none  abiding!"  The  latter 
gift  became  worn  out  in  honest,  useful  service;  the 
other,  some  years  later,  quietly  stepped  "down  and  out" 
one  day  at  noontide  on  the  dexterous  fct-t  of  a  bedroom 
thief,  who,  worse  than  Judas  Iscariot,  never  returned  to 
confess  his  crime  or  restore  his  dishonest  booty. 

New  PROvinENCE,  N.  J.,  1882-85. 

The  Conference  session  of  1882  was  held  in  one  of 
our  stately  churches,  and,  from  occupying  the  bishop's 
chair  by  his  authority  on  the  last  evening  till  near  its 
close,  we  were  sent  by  that  same  authority  to  a  parson- 
age home  which,  by  common  consent,  was  cpiite  unfit 
for  occupancy  by  any  respectable  family.  AVas  it  strange 
that  the  pastor's  wife  who,  for  many  years,  had  borne 
"  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  "  in  serving  the  Church 
and  caring  for  a  large  family  should  give  expression  to 
her  deep  sorrow  in  tears,  or  that  the  sorrow  thus  experi- 
enced should  insensibly  impair  her  health  and  hasten 
the  sudden  death  in  which  in  less  than  seventeen  months 
after  stilled  her  beating  heart  ? 

Meanwhile,  my  own  health  had  succumbed  to  the 
heavy  strain  wliich  tliree  sermons  and  a  ride  of  eight 
miles  each  Sabbath  had  imposed  upon  me,  tlie  breakdown 


180 


Sunset  Memories. 


coming  early  in  June  of  our  second  year  and  obliging  a 
perfect  rest  of  my  broken  voice  during  the  next  four 
months.  A  part  of  this  time  was  occupied  in  visiting 
friends,  my  wife  remaining  behind  to  care  for  the  home 
and  entertain  the  various  ministers  who  had  been  en- 
gaged to  fill  the  pulpit.  While  in  Cape  May  County,  a 
letter  told  me  of  her  sickness,  which,  though  not  con- 
sidered dangerous  or  even  serious,  led  me  to  shorten  my 
intended  absence  and  hasten  back  to  our  home. 

None  too  soon  was  my  return.  She  was  able  to  meet 
and  greet  me  on  the  front  lawn,  and  for  a  few  days  to  sit 
with  us  at  the  family  meals;  but  during  the  next  Sun- 
day night  she  was  suddenly  attacked  as  she  had  been 
two  weeks  previously,  then,  however,  to  find  relief,  now, 
alas  !  to  wrestle  in  vain  with  the  insidious  heart  trouble 
which  a  few  years  before,  as  the  setpicl  proved,  had 
marked  her  for  a  victim.  At  break  of  day,  August  13, 
1883,  her  troubled  heart  had  ceasi^d  to  throb,  there  being 
present  the  family  physician.  Dr.  Corey,  our  youngest  son, 
Horatio  M.,  and  the  two  younger  daughters,  Hattic  and 
Mellie,  with  the  writer.  Our  home  and  our  hearts  were 
desolate  beyond  description. 

Three  days  later  the  funeral  services  at  the  church 
were  attended  by  a  large  congrc-atii^n,  including  nu- 
merous relatives,  with  friends  from  former  charges,  and 
about  thirty  ministers  of  the  Conference,  addresses  being 
delivered  by  Presiding  Elder  Joseph  H.  Knowles,  and 
the  Revs.  Crook  S.  Vancleve,  Ralph  S.  Arndt,  and 
Thomas  H.  Smith.  Next  day  a  new-made  grave  at 
Cedar  Lawn,  Paterson,  N.  J.,  received  all  that  was  mortal 
of  my  faithful,  devoted,  beloved  Amelia,  the  Rev.  Charles 
C.  Winans  conducting  the  burial  service.  A  fitting 
memoir  from  the  i)en  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Freeman  was  published 
in  The  Christian  Advocate^  and  the  next  spring  read  by 
him  at  the  Conference  memorial  service. 


Chronological  Glimpses.  181 


Five  months  and  more  after  our  changed  life  had  here 
begun  I  received  the  following  episcopal  letter,  which 
sufficiently  tells  its  own  story  without  note  or  comment 
from  me : 

"September  6,  1S82. 

"  Dear  Brother  Vansant :  I  intended  shortly  after 
the  Newark  Conference  to  write  to  you,  for  I  wanted  to 
say  some  things  which  it  was  not  possible,  in  the  hurry 
of  the  Conference  session,  to  say.  I  felt  very  keenly  the 
singular  and  unexpected  combination  of  unfortunate 
circumstances  which  resulted  in  New  Providence  being 
your  home.  I  could  say  what  I  know  would  convince 
you  of  my  best  will  and  earnest  sympathy  with  you  and 
your  dear  family.  But  I  know  you  will  take  some  things 
for  granted,  and  that  my  undiminished  good  feeling  to- 
ward, and  effort  to  accommodate,  you  will  be  one.  .  .  . 
"Yours  very  truly,"  etc. 

Coincident  with  my  first  Sunday  on  the  charge,  before 
moving,  was  the  lamented  death  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  members  and  officers  of  tlie  church,  Mr. 
John  Wood;  but  I  was  taken  sick  and  became  unable 
to  attend  the  funeral  services,  which  were  conducted  by 
the  Revs.  James  M.  Tuttle  and  Charles  S.  Coit. 

Amid  all  our  embarrassments  we  quietly  entered  in 
good  heart  upon  the  work  of  our  new  field.  One  of  the 
first  things  to  engage  attention  was  that  of  repairing  the 
parsonage.  I  was  especially  urged  to  this  by  our  near- 
est neighbor,  Mr.  E.  F.  Williams,  with  whose  elegant 
home  directly  opposite  the  dilapidated  parsonage  stood 
in  humiliating  contrast.  He  said  the  trustees  were  too 
busy  witli  their  own  affairs  to  attend  to  it,  and  added, 
"  If  you  don't  do  it,  it  will  not  be  done ;  "  then  for  my 
encouragement  he  said  he  would  give  me  his  check  for 


182 


Sunset  Memories. 


one  hundred  dollars  that  day,  which  he  did.  With  such 
practical  interest  shown  by  a  citizen  not  connected  with 
the  church,  how  could  I  do  otherwise  than  proceed  ?  A 
meeting  of  the  trustees  was  secured,  to  whom  I  said, 
"If  you  will  authorize  the  necessary  repairs  and  appoint 
an  advisory  and  auditing  committee  I  will  collect  the 
needful  funds,  buy  the  materials,  hire  the  workmen,  and 
pay  all  bills,  with  the  understanding,  of  course,  that  you 
render  the  aid  of  your  personal  contributions  according 
to  ability."  The  trustees  were  only  too  glad  to  take  me 
at  my  word,  and  the  work  was  promptly  begun,  vigor- 
ously prosecuted,  and  satisfactorily  completed. 

Another  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  held,  to  which  I 
reported  that  the  total  subscriptions  had  been  sufficient 
to  cover  the  entire  cost  of  over  five  hundred  dollars  ; 
that  every  subscription  had  been  collected  without  the 
loss  of  a  dollar  or  a  cent ;  that  every  workman  had  been 
paid,  and  every  bill  settled  in  full,  with  three  dollars  and 
forty  cents  remaining  in  my  hands,  which  they  voted  I 
should  keep.  Thus  we  were  made  comfortable  and  they 
happy,  while  all  the  people  were  glad. 

About  ten  months  after  the  deatli  of  her  whom  we 
mourned  the  parsonage  witnessed  the  quiet  marriage  of 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Emma  R.  Buckhout,  and  Mr.  Sherman 
Broadwell,  which  proved  a  source  of  great  domestic 
happiness  to  both.  Five  months  later  occurred  the 
marriage  of  our  surviving  twin  daughter,  who  had  now 
reached  a  bright  and  useful  young  womanhood.  The 
two  ladies,  mentioned  elsewhere,  for  whom  she  and  her 
mate  had  been  named,  were  present  to  superintend  the 
home  preparations,  besides  whom  a  very  small  number 
of  friends  had  been  invited.  Amid  the  mingling  of 
tender  memories  and  joyful  anticipations  she  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Harry  M.  Wagner,  a  young  man  of  Balti- 
more, Md.,  whose  personal  character,  with  his  family, 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


183 


cluircli,  and  l)usiness  relations,  rendered  him  full  worthy 
tlie  hand  of  his  happy  bride. 

Here  I  served  as  pastor  of  not  only  one  of  the  most, 
but  of  the  most,  remarkable  of  all  the  men  of  my  ac- 
quaintance— S.  Thomas  Day.  Stricken  with  blindness 
in  slacking  lime  six  months  after  his  marriage,  he  lived 
to  be  tlie  father  of  seven  sons  and  a  daughter  without 
ever  seeing  one  of  them,  the  whole  number,  with  no  ex- 
ception, growing  up  possessed  of  rare  excellences;  he 
himself  a  member  and  officer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Ciuirch,  and  each  one  of  his  sons  the  same,  the  daughter 
becoming  the  wife  of  one  of  our  ministers,  the  Rev. 
Stephen  H.  Jones;  his  own  father,  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Day,  an  ordained  local  preacher,  and  four  brothers,  the 
Revs.  Mulford  Day,  Benjamin  Day,  Peter  D.  Day,  and 
Edwin  A.  Day,  members  of  Annual  Conferences,  with 
three  other  brothers,  Stephen,  Daniel,  and  Francis,  mem- 
bers and  officers  of  the  Churcli ;  liis  mother  an  almost 
lifelong  Christian,  with  a  fair  prospect,  but  for  a  fall, 
of  becoming  a  centenarian;  and  his  wife,  still  living,  a 
woman,  as  anyone  might  readily  infer,  of  superior  judg- 
ment, energy,  and  wisdom.  Where  can  be  found  a 
parallel?  The  conversations,  prayers,  and  testimonies 
of  S.  T.  Day  still  ring  in  the  writer's  soul  as  inspirations 
to  hope  and  courage  and  work. 

Other  important  families  might  be  named,  as  Burnett, 
Wilcox,  Valentine,  Dickinson,  Corey,  Ulrich,  Samson, 
Nevins,  Durie,  and  Johnson  at  New  Providence;  and 
French,  Stevens,  Coon,  and  Smalley  at  Union  Village. 

The  extraordinary  afflictions  through  which  I  had 
passed  were  followed  by  fervid  expressions  of  an  unfal- 
tering, triumphant  faith,  published  in  The  Christian  Ad- 
vocate. Soon  after,  I  spoke  to  Dr.  Buckley,  the  editor, 
of  my  embarrassment  in  having  written  so  frankly  and 
fully  about  myself,  to  which  he  kindly  replied  that  the 


184 


Sunset  MemorieSi 


ai'lirlc  had  doubtless  found  a  ready  and  dee])  respfjnsj 
in  tlie  hearts  of  hundreds  of  readers.  It  is  here  given  as 
thus  published: 

Faith  and  Feeling. 

BY  THF.  UEV.   N.  VANSANT. 

One  of  tlie  blessed  lessons  taught  me  in  my  late  sick- 
ness was  the  value  of  faith — a  fixed,  uncjuestioning  faith 
in  Jesus  and  his  word.  Stripped  of  all  else,  nothing 
was  left  to  me  but  "naked  faith;"  but  this  pro\ed 
enough,  (juite  enough.  As  the  hand  of  disease  pressed 
more  and  more  heavily  upon  tlie  helpless  body  my  whole 
emotional  nature  seemed  under  bonds.  Joyless,  grief- 
less,  tearless,  I  lay  for  weary  weeks  with  cloudless  mind, 
in  the  calm  exercise  of  the  steady,  restful  faith. 

Had  anyone  asked,  "  Do  you  /re/  happy.'"  the  an- 
swer must  have  been,  "  No,  but  I  a//i  ha[)p)-,  for,  '  IJlessed 
[hapi)v]  is  he  whose  transgression  is  forgiven,  whose  sin 
is  covered.'"  Or,  "  Do  you /<\-/  that  you  are  a  child  of 
God  and  an  heir  of  liea\'en  ?"  "  Xo,  but  I  am  sure  of 
it,  for  'The  S[>irit  itself  bearetli  witness  with  our  spirit, 
that  we  are  the  chiklren  of  (iod:  and  if  chiklren,  then 
heirs.'"  Or,  "  Do  you  /rr/  that  should  you  die  you 
would  go  to  Jesus  ?  "  "  No,  but  I  A-//(m'  it,  for  '  We  know 
that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dis- 
solved, we  have  a  building  of  God,  an  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  .  .  .  Wc  are  confi- 
dent, I  say,  and  willing  rather  to  be  absent  from  the 
body,  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord.'  " 

The  pressure  of  affliction  lifted,  the  unbound  tide  of 
emotion  began  to  flow  as  aforetime  in  "  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory."  Now  I  know,  as  never  so  fully  be- 
fore, that  the  soul's  great  sheet-anchor  of  safety  in 
trouble  is  a  firm,  immovable  faith.  Such  a  faith,  kept, 
becomes  in  turn  a  keeping  faith. 


Chronological  Glimpses.  185 


In  reading  raul's  last  c[)istlL' — second  Tiinotliy — 1 
liear  him  shout  from  his  jirison  cell  at  Rcmie,  "  I  ha\  c 
kejit  the  faitli;  henccfortli  tliere  is  laid  u[)  tor  iiie  a 
crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
juilge,  shall  gi\  e  l:ic  at  that  lAixy;  "  and  then,  turning  to 
Peter's  first  letter,  1  hear  hini  sending  back  from  far-off 
IJabylon  the  gladsoiiie  response,  "  Who  are  kept  by  the 
power  of  (iod  through  faith  unto  salvation  ready  to  be 
revealed  in  the  last  time." 

While  the  above — written  and  dated  August  ii — was 
awaiting  transmission  to  the  editor,  there  suddenly  came 
to  me,  but  two  da_\s  after,  a  new  and  most  jjaint^ul  e.x- 
])eriencc.  ("lod's  ancient  servant  Ezekiel,  in  relating  his 
own  sorrowful  bereavement,  tells  the  sad  story  of  mine: 
"Also  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me,  saying,  Son 
of  man,  behold,  I  take  away  from  thee  the  desire  of 
thine  eyes  with  a  stroke;  "  the  touching  sequel  of  which 
he  writes  in  the  few  tender  words,  "  And  at  even  my 
■wife  died."  More  sudden  still  was  the  fulfdlment  of 
our  later  premonition.  Scarcely  a  brief  hour  had  fol- 
lowed it  when  the  beloved  wife,  the  modest  but  heroic 
sharer  of  my  itinerant  toils  and  successes,  sorrows  and 
joys,  for  almost  thirty-nine  years  was  also  taken  away 
with  a  stroke.  Ah!  then  I  understood  the  psalmist's 
deep  bemoaning  as  I  could  not  before — "  All  thy  waves 
and  thy  billows  are  gone  over  me." 

^N'ill  faith  stand  the  test  of  this  sorer  trial  ?  If  under 
physical  prostration  too  great  for  feeling,  whether  of  joy 
or  grief,  it  proved  itself  master  of  the  situation,  how  will 
it  be  now,  wl.en  "  all  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep  "  of 
emotion  are  "broken  up"  and  "the  water-flood"  of 
sorrow  "overflows"  the  whole  being.'  AVill  the  sheet- 
anchor  still  hold  ?  Thanks  be  to  God,  it  will — it  does! 
In  the  inner  soul-realm  it  is  peace,  blessed  peace;  not, 
indeed,  peace  after  the  storm,  nor  \  et  peace  quelling  it, 


186 


Sunset  Memories. 


but  peace  in  the  midst  of  it.  Tlie  winds  and  the  waves 
of  sighing  grief  and  gushing  tears  continue,  nor  would  I 
have  them  stayed  ;  but  the  divine  Master's  "  Peace,  be 
still"  steadies  the.  beaten  bark  and  withholds  from  sub- 
mergence beneath  the  agitated  waters. 

Only  a  few  days  before  this  sorrowful  experience  I 
had  read  and  marked  for  future  reference  a  sweet  pas- 
sage in  Fenelon,  which  now  comes  to  me  as  part  of  the 
heavenly  Father's  preparation  for  a  more  perfect  walk- 
ing by  faith,  and  not  by  siglit:  "  Whoever  will  try  it  will 
soon  find  that  this  way  of  naked  faith,  rigidly  followed, 
is  the  i)rofoundest  and  most  complete  death  of  self.  .  .  . 
To  suffer  ourselves  to  be  stripped  within  and  without  at 
once — without  by  providence,  and  within  by  the  night 
of  pure  faith — this  is  a  total  sacrifice  and  a  state  the 
farthest  possible  from  self-deception." 

New  Providence,  N.  J.,  Aug.  24,  18S3. 

Chatham,  N.  J.,  1885-88. 

The  beautiful  parsonage  here  was  nearly  new,  having 
been  occupied  but  about  one  year  by  our  predecessors, 
the  Rev.  Salmon  D.  Jones  and  wife,  through  whose  ex- 
ertions largely  it  had  been  built,  under  the  wise  plan- 
ning and  supervision  of  architect  George  W.  Bower. 

Here  I  found  a  veteran  couple.  Brother  Harvey  Bond 
and  wife,  to  whom  I  had  ministered  in  my  pastorate  of 
1845,  1846.  Well-preserved  and  happy,  they  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  a  year  or  two  since.  Here,  also, 
were  Brother  H.  W.  Pierson  and  wife,  previously  men- 
tioned, who  were  still  active  in  church  work.  But  in 
the  main  the  membership  and  congregation  consisted 
of  a  new  generation  very  few  of  whom  I  had  ever 
known,  including  the  names  Kelley,  Bower,  Lees,  Conk- 
lin,  Hall,  Hopping,  Carter,  Sheldon,  Mesler,  Ford, 
Muchmore,  Taylor,  Smith,  Morgan,  Fouratt,  Brewster, 


Chronological  Glimpses.  187 


Spencer,  Morgan,  Broadwell,  Genung,  Bruen,  Riker, 
McCarl,  Hill,  Ryerson,  Phipps,  Munson,  Pollard,  Sid- 
man,  Struble,  Hesse,  and  Reed.  Among  our  best,  as 
they  were  our  nearest,  neighbors  were  Mr.  Edward 
Taylor  and  family,  on  the  one  hand,  and  Mr.  J.  T. 
Wagner  and  family,  on  the  other.  A  member  of  an- 
other Church,  Mr.  A.  M.  French,  Congregationalist, 
kindly  consented  to  become  our  Sunday  school  super- 
intendent, serving  as  such  with  great  acceptability  and 
usefulness. 

The  parsonage  here  was  the  scene  of  two  soc  ial 
events  of  peculiar  interest  to  us.  The  first  was  the 
home-bringing  of  one  between  whom  and  myself  was 
thenceforward  to  subsist  the  tenderest  of  all  human  re- 
lationships— that  of  husband  and  wife.  The  memoraljle 
date  when  the  name  of  Miss  Josepliine  L.,  daughter  of 
Mr.  W.  W.  Tunis,  of  Madison,  N.  J.,  became  changed 
to  mine  was  December  30,  1885,  the  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
Knowles  officiating.  Said  an  intimate  friend  on  becom- 
ing acquainted  with  her  soon  after,  "  That  marriage  was 
made  in  heaven;"  so  we  believed  then,  and  so  during  all 
the  years  that  have  since  passed  we  and  our  children 
and  friends  have  continued  to  believe.  The  other 
event  was  the  marriage  of  our  youngest  daughter  to 
Mr.  P.  T.  A\'ood  December  7,  1886,  my  sixty-third 
birthday.  A  genial  company  gathered  to  witness  the 
ceremony  and  enjoy  the  quiet  festivities  of  the  even- 
ing. The  bridal  tour  included  a  trip  by  ocean  steamer 
to  Florida. 

At  considerable  exj)ense,  provided  for  in  advance,  the 
church  and  parsonage  were  repainted  and  a  substantial 
new  drain  built  along  the  front  of  the  former.  The 
garden  spot  in  rear  of  the  parsonage  was  for  the  first  time 
cultivated,  to  which  was  added  the  planting  of  grape- 
vines donated  by  Mr.  Sheldon,  the  fruit  of  which  has 


1C8 


Sunset  Memories. 


been  enjoyed  by  our  successors.  Ornamental  vines 
were  also  sel  out  before  tlie  front  piazza.  Mention  is 
made  of  these  small  improvements  because  life  is 
largely  made  up  df  little  ihni^s. 

Some  measure  of  revival  influence  was  realized  each 
year,  adding  somewhat  to  the  numerical  and  moral 
strength  of  the  church.  Near  the  close  of  the  last  year 
we  organized  a  Christian  P^ndeavor  Society,  of  which 
Brother  M.  K.  Hopping  became  the  efficient  president. 

Afterward  it  took  on  the  name  and  character  of  an 
l'4)worth  League  chapter,  under  the  same  officers,  and 
is  still  continuing  to  do  excellent  work. 

I  must  not  fail  to  mention  that  the  New  Year's  Day 
of  1 886  was  a  notable  one  at  the  parsonage.  Having 
made  preparation  for  successive  calls,  we  waited  in 
([uiet  expectancy  to  welcome  them;  but  none  came,  and 
hour  after  hour  passed,  only  to  intensify  our  disap- 
pointment. What  did  it  mean  ?  Were  our  parishion- 
ers offended  by  the  installation  of  a  new  wife  and 
mother  in  the  parsonage  ?  No  one  but  the  daughter 
knew,  and  she  skillfully  concealed  her  knowledge  by  re- 
marking in  perfectly  natural  tone  and  manner,  "  If  no 
calls  come  I  think  it  will  be  shabby  treatment."  Hav- 
ing about  settled  down  in  quiet  despair,  at  eight  o'clock 
or  soon  after  the  long  spell  was  broken  by  the  ringing  of 
the  bell  and  the  sound  of  footsteps.  I  was  asked  to 
wait  on  the  door,  the  opening  of  which  revealed  a 
throng  of  both  sexes  and  various  ages,  who  had  mani- 
festly come  to  take  possession,  notwithstanding  that 
well-known  maxim  of  the  old  English  law  that  "a  man's 
house  is  his  castle."  The  surprise  was  perfect,  and  to 
the  number  of  seventy  or  eighty  they  entered  and  took 
the  freedom  of  our  house.  Never  did  a  company  enjoy 
or  inijjart  more  genuine  pleasure.  The  congratulations 
were  many  and  hearty;  nor  this  alone,  for  an  excellent 


Chronological  Glimpses.  189 


timekeeper,  in  form  ot  a  bcaLititul  mantel  clock,  fell  to 
the  lot  of  tlic  wife,  while  a  superb  adjustable  chair, 
suitable  for  health  or  sickness,  for  youth  or  iioary  age, 
was  made  over  to  the  husband.  From  these  and  mani- 
fold other  proofs  of  genuine  friendship  the  people  of 
Chatham  can  never  cease  to  hold  a  large  and  warm 
place  in  our  hearts. 

Port  Oram,  X.  J.,  1888,  1889. 

My  successor  at  Chatham,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Mead, 
was  my  predecessor  at  Port  Oram.  Here  I  found  large 
congregations  and,  with  but  two  exception-^,  the  largest 
Sunday  school  in  Morris  County,  these  exceptions  being 
in  Morristown.  It  was  under  the  efficient  management 
of  Brothers  W.  H.  Tongking  and  E.  \V.  Rosevear,  each 
of  whom  has  since  become  a  local  preacher.  Tiie  old- 
fashioned  class  meeting  was  here  maintained  in  much 
of  its  primitive  simplicity,  the  membership,  consisting 
mostly  of  Cornish  miners  and  their  families,  being  di- 
vided into  classes,  the  weekly  meetings  of  which  they 
were  expected  to  attend.  As  to  prayer  meeting  work- 
ers, their  equals  in  numbers  and  talents  I  have  rarely 
found  in  city  or  in  country. 

Two  good  local  preachers  of  several  years'  standing, 
Brothers  Eustice  and  Cook,  were  found  ready  to  ren- 
der all  needful  assistance  to  tlie  jjastor.  The  latter 
since  then  has  passed  to  his  reward;  tlie  former  has 
been  employed  much  of  his  time  in  j)astoral  work 
under  the  presiding  elder,  and  tiie  spring  of  1895  was 
elected  by  the  Newark  Conference  to  deacon's  orders 
and  ordained  by  Bishop  Hurst.  Three  excellent  ex- 
horters.  Brothers  William  Champion,  James  Moyle, 
and  John  Trenberth,  made  themselves  useful  in  many 
ways.  The  last  named  has  since  become  a  pastor  in 
the  Primitive  Methodist  Clnirch,  and  Brother  Moyle  has 
13 


190 


Sunset  Memories. 


entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Can- 
ada. The  choir  furnished  sweet  music  under  the  able 
leadership  of  Brother  Josiah  Curtis,  by  whose  worthy 
successor,  Brother  Rosevear,  this  part  of  the  service  is 
still  happily  sustained.  The  official  board  was  a  large 
and  strong  one,  with  a  secretary.  Brother  Samuel  Davis, 
as  good  as  the  best. 

Besides  the  homes  of  those  mentioned  there  were 
many  others  which  extended  a  warm  welcome  and 
bountiful  entertainment,  as  those  of  James  T.  Spargo, 
our  wonted  headquarters,  Farr,  Dunkin,  Kice,  James, 
Bullock,  Osborn,  Richards,  Williams. 

A  young  peojjle's  society  for  intellectual  and  social 
improvement  had  been  organized  and  kept  in  success- 
ful operation,  the  meetings  of  which  we  found  a  source 
of  interest  and  pleasure.  I  suggested  the  addition  of  a 
new  department  of  exercises,  that  of  "  literary  inquiry," 
in  which  the  blackboard  should  be  freely  used.  This 
was  adopted  and  proved  a  means  of  real  profit,  especially 
in  the  orthography  and  j)ronunciation  of  words. 

At  length  came  the  time  to  favor  Zion,  "  yea,  tiie  set 
time,"  resulting  in  a  glorious  revival.  It  began  unex- 
pectedly in  a  Sunday  night  prayer  meeting  after  the 
sermon.  The  pastor  invited  any  who'  desired  to  be 
saved  to  rise,  whereupon  three  young  men  arose  and, 
after  further  invitation,  came  to  the  altar.  Tiiat  was  a 
sudden  call  to  tlie  churcii  to  "  go  forward,"  and  the 
call  was  obeyed  by  the  appointment  of  a  meeting  for 
the  next  night,  and  so  on  for  every  night  during  the 
next  six  or  eight  weeks,  not  excepting  Saturday  or 
holiday  evenings,  until  a  hundred  souls  in  round  num- 
bers had  professed  conversion.  Many  thrilling  incidents 
might  be  given  of  that  gra(  ious  work,  the  blessed  fruit 
of  which  is  seen  more  and  more.  Not  an  extra  sermon 
was  preached,  and  no  outside  help  rendered,  except  as 


Chronological  Glimpses.  191 


near  its  close  three  earnest  brethren  of  Morristown, 
Messrs.  Hedges,  Green  (deceased  January  i8,  1896), 
and  McCollum,  passed  an  evening  with  us.  Among  the 
valuable  accessions  that  came  to  the  church  were  Dr.  H. 
W.  Kice  and  wife,  the  latter  by  certificate,  the  former  on 
profession  of  faith  experienced  in  a  neighboring  revival. 

One  of  the  regular  attendants  at  church  was  Mr.  E. 
E.  Potter,  who  has  now  been  more  than  twenty-five 
consecutive  years  the  trusted  and  useful  principal  of  the 
Port  Oram  public  school.  This  unusual  fact,  com- 
bining with  his  superior  scholarship,  extensive  knowl- 
edge, thorough  self-possession,  plain,  open  manner, 
great  comp:iss  of  voice,  and  marked  power  in  debate, 
serves  to  render  him  a  citizen  of  special  and  well-de- 
served note.  To  number  such  a  man  among  one's 
honest  friends  is  a  genuine  pleasure. 

Having  been  mysteriously  changed  at  the  end  of  one 
year,  it  is  no  small  comfort,  on  revisiting  tliis  charge,  to 
find  so  many  open  hands  and  hearts  and  homes  ready 
to  welcome  us  with  a  cordiality  peculiarly  refreshing. 
My  successors  have  been  Dr.  Charles  Larew,  an  old  and 
intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  Henry  Bice,  and  the  present 
beloved  pastor,  the  Rev.  Abraham  M.  Harris. 

St.  John's,  Rossvii.i.e,  St.\ten  Island,  N.  Y.,  1889-92. 

This  small  station  was  set  off  from  the  old  Woodrow 
charge  in  1876,  with  the  Rev.  Salmon  D.  Jones  as  its 
first  pastor.  That  it  had  not  with  the  years  increased 
to  a  larger  and  stronger  appointment  resulted  chiefly 
from  a  constant  decrease  in  the  neighborhood  popula- 
tion. Its  principal  officers  were  the  Rev.  Jesse  Oakley, 
a  local  elder,  H.  H.  Seguine,  S.  W.  Benedict,  J.  G. 
AVinant,  J.  C.  Winant,  J.  Johnson,  D.  M.  Ayres,  Mrs.  J. 
C.  Disosway,  and  Miss  Mary  Gole,  besides  whom  may 
be   mentioned   several   excellent    families  :  Woglom, 


192 


Sunset  Memories. 


Sleight,  Dixon,  Turner,  Moore,  Williams,  and  Meyer. 
During  most  of  our  time  W.  15.  Sharrot  served  usefully 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  Three  vener- 
able members  and  ^former  active  officers  of  the  church, 
Brothers  Isaac  C.  Winant,  John  V.  S.  Woglom,  and 
James  J.  Winants,  passed  away,  the  writer  officiating  at 
the  largely  attended  funeral  of  each.  I  had  known 
them  all,  having  been  their  pastor  forty  years  before, 
and  now  saw  them  in  turn  come  down  to  a  peaceful 
end.  The  last-named  left  a  beautiful  example  of 
Christian  patience  and  resiL^nalion  tluring  a  long  and 
trying  affliction.  After  an  active  and  successful  busi- 
ness life  he  was  overtaken,  sixteen  years  before  his 
death,  by  a  paralysis  which  affected  his  whole  body 
and  continued  without  intermission  to  the  last;  but  his 
mind  was  preserved  in  conscious  serenity  and  trust,  of 
which,  however,  he  was  able  to  give  but  little  expres- 
sion in  words.  His  devoted  wife  for  so  many  years, 
w^ith  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  still  lives  to  cherish 
and  honor  his  memory. 

Vet  another  of  those  long-ago  parishioners  whose 
names  stood  on  tlie  rcc  ords  of  St.  John's  reached  the 
(juiet  end  of  her  i)ilgriniage,  Mrs.  Susan  A.,  widow  of  B. 
P.  Winant.  For  years  she  had  been  unable  to  attend 
church,  but,  though  deprived  of  "  the  communion  of 
saints,"  she  still  maintained  her  communion  with  God 
and  left  assuring  testimony  of  victory  in  death.  The 
funeral  occasion  gave  us  opportunity  for  interesting 
reminiscences. 

The  semicentennial  anniversary  of  my  entrance  u\^on 
the  pastoral  work  occurred  December  4,  1890,  and  was 
appropriately  celebrated.  A  large  congregation  gathered 
at  the  church  and  listened  with  deep  interest  to  ad- 
dresses from  the  Revs.  Abraham  M.  Palmer,  James  R. 
Bryan,  John  ().  Winner,  William  B.Wigg,  Enoch  V.  King, 


Chronological  Glimpses. 


193 


and  Isaac  N.  Vansant,  as  also  to  an  original  poem  writ- 
ten for  the  occasion  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Smith,  the 
merits  of  which  fully  entitled  it  to  publication.  Special 
music  was  rendered,  including  the  singing  of  an  original 
hymn  written  by  the  pastor.  Before  the  dismission  a 
double  surprise  came  to  me  in  the  well-chosen  forms  of 
a  handsome  gold  pen  and  a  beautiful  Rochester  lamp, 
the  one  with  which  to  write,  and  the  other  to  give  need- 
ful light.  The  first  presentation  address  was  made  by 
our  little  Sunday  school  orator,  Aimee  Oakley,  and  the 
second  by  her  venerable  grandfather,  Jesse  Oakley. 
After  our  departure  her  devoted  mother,  wlio  so  de- 
lighted in  the  training  and  early  development  of  her  only 
child,  died  amid  many  regrets,  leaving  lier  to  the  care 
of  others ;  and  not  long  after  the  aged  grandfather  ex- 
changed his  earthly  life  of  long  and  useful  service  for 
the  eternal  rest  of  heaven.  Much  interest  gathered 
about  the  parsonage  on  that  memorable  evening,  both 
before  and  after  the  church  service.  On  turning  up  my 
plate  at  tlie  family  supper  table  I  found  adhering  to  it 
in  a  circle  five  shining  eagles,  representing  the  fifty 
years  of  my  itinerant  ministry.  This  well-planned 
surprise  had  been  concerted  by  our  children,  all  of 
whom,  save  the  daughter  at  Baltimore,  were  present. 
The  joy  was  mutual,  theirs  as  the  donors  being  exceeded 
only  by  ours  as  the  recipients.  After  the  public  services 
the  s[)Lakcrs  and  a  large  number  of  other  friends  re- 
paired to  the  parsonage  to  enjoy  the  refreshments  so 
bountifully  provided  by  the  ladies  of  the  congregation. 

Several  months  before  this  a  legacy  of  about  $1,500 
from  the  estate  of  Mr.  Orlando  Wood  had  come  into 
possession  of  the  trustees,  enabling  them  to  li(piidnte  a 
debt  on  the  church  building  of  $600,  to  expend  $,500 
and  over  on  church  repairs  and  improvements,  leaving  a 
considerable  balance  to  be  used  for  the  enlargement  of 


194 


Sunset  Memories. 


a  hall  belonging  to  the  church  and  standing  directly  op- 
posite. This  accomplished,  the  enlarged  building,  at 
the  pastor's  suggestion,  took  the  name  of  "  Orlando 
Hall  "  in  honor  of  ^he  generous  legator. 

The  parsonage  was  owned  by  Captain  J.  Johnson  Wi- 
nants,  and  since  1876  had  been  occupied  by  the  pastors 
and  their  families,  either  free  of  rent  or  at  a  very  small 
rental  consideration.  In  the  autumn  of  our  first  year 
several  needed  improvements  were  put  upon  the  build- 
ing and  a  well  of  good  water  added  at  the  expense  of 
the  owner,  under  the  wise  direction  of  his  son,  J.  J.  Wi- 
nants,  Jr.,  to  whom  the  father  had  several  years  before 
intrusted  the  management  of  his  business.  The  gener- 
ous owner  having  repeatedly  expressed  an  intention  to 
give  this  property  to  the  church,  it  was  supposed  that 
provision  to  this  effect  would  be  found  in  the  will;  but 
this  proved  not  to  be  the  case.  His  noble  wife,  how- 
ever, who  so  fully  knew  and  sympathized  with  his  wish, 
proceeded  to  supply  the  omission  at  her  own  expense 
by  purchasing  the  property,  which  under  the  will  had 
fallen  to  the  children,  and  then  conveying  it  by  deed  to 
the  church. 

In  spiritual  results  this  pastorate  was  a  disappointment. 
Among  the  means  used  were  the  labors  of  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Lowry,  a  well-known  and  successful  evangelist,  who  came 
at  the  pastor's  invitation  and  by  consent  of  the  church, 
and  whose  discourses  were  especially  able,  eloquent,  and 
powerful,  producing  a  deep  impression  upon  the  large 
congregations  in  attendance.  Why  not  a  marked  re- 
vival.'   As  it  was,  some  were  saved. 

With  mingled  emotions  our  thoughts  turn  back  to 
this,  the  last  and  the  lenst  of  our  pastoral  charges,  in 
which  we  arc  glad  to  reckon  some  as  among  our  best 
and  most  valued  friends  on  earth. 


PART  IV. 

MEMORIES  OF  NEW  JERSEY  AND 
NEWARK  CONFERENCES. 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  197 


PART  IV. 


Memories  of  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences, 


HE  first  session  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference  was 


*  held  in  April,  1837,  it  liaving  been  till  then  a  part 
of  the  Philadelphia  Conference.  In  1841,  four  years 
after  its  organization  and  one  year  before  my  admission 
on  trial,  I  began  attending  its  sessions.  Our  annual  ex- 
aminations in  the  four  years'  course  of  study  began  with 
the  Conference  of  1843,  and  were  always  looked  forward 
to  with  very  great  interest,  sometimes  even  nervous  nnx- 
iety,  which,  however,  in  the  end  as  often  proved  to  have 
been  needless. 

The  committees  of  examination  embodied  various 
types  of  men,  represented  somewhat  as  follows:  Rev. 
Jefferson  Lewis,  the  austere,  yet  a  true  friend  to  all  true 
young  men;  Rev.  John  S.  Porter,  the  dignified,  yet 
when  understood  as  approachable,  open,  and  simple  as 
a  child  ;  Rev.  Joseph  Chattle,  the  gentle,  a  jjlain,  practi- 
cal, useful  minister,  with  no  airs  and  much  piety;  Rev. 
Abram  K.  Street,  the  painstaking  combined  with  the 
earnest,  himself  thoroughly  prepared  for  his  examina- 
tion on  Wesley's  Sei»ic7>is,  and  inviting  similar  prepara- 
tion from  the  whole  class  by  furnishing  to  each  in  ad- 
vance a  list  of  the  questions  to  which  he  expected 
answers  ;  Rev.  William  Roberts,  the  scholarly,  a  cultured 
gentleman  whose  look,  manner,  and  utterance  gave  to 
the  class  a  delightful  home  feeling  in  his  presence. 

In  1846  the  latter  was  selected  by  the  board  of  bishops 
as  superintendent  of  the  Oregon  Mission;  sailed  from 
New  York  with  instructions  from  the  missionary  board 


1842-96. 


198 


Sunset  Memories. 


to  explore  California,  where  he  stopped  six  weeks  and 
organized  the  first  church  in  San  Francisco;  reached 
Oregon  in  June,  1847,  and  took  the  place  of  the  Rev. 
George  Gary  as  superintendent  of  the  mission  work  on 
the  Pacific  coast;  in  1849,  by  direction  of  Bishop  Waugh, 
organized  the  Oregon  and  California  Mission  Conference, 
which  was  under  his  superintendency  four  years;  in  1856 
was  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  at  Indianapolis, 
and  the  next  three  years  agent  of  the  American  Bible 
Society;  was  then  stationed  at  Portland,  Ore.,  and 
served  as  presiding  elder  of  the  Portland  District.  He 
died  August  22,  1888.  A  few  years  ago,  at  Ocean  Grove, 
the  writer,  with  many  other  old  friends,  enjoyed  again  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  his  genial  face  and  feeling  the  grasp 
of  his  warm  hand.  Born  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  in  1812, 
he  was  an  honor  to  his  native  State  and  to  the  Church. 

Besides  these  five  typical  men  we  found  ourselves 
in  the  hands  of  a  dozen  or  more  others,  taking  the 
four  years  together,  but  none  of  them  ever  expressed 
censure  over  our  lack  of  delight  with  Claude's  Essay  or 
our  failure  to  indorse  everything  we  found  in  Dymond's 
Moral  Science.  By  common  consent  all  around,  the  one 
member  of  our  class  who  passed  the  best  examination 
in  Whateley's  Lo,i;ic  was  the  Rev.  Henry  B.  Beegle  so 
recently  dismissed  from  the  flesh.  His  was  a  long  and 
beautiful  record  of  fidelity,  purity,  and  usefulness. 

All  of  the  early  members  of  this  Conference  whose 
names  were  mentioned  in  the  semicentennial  address 
have  passed  away,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  Rev. 
Abram  K.  Street,  who  at  this  writing  still  survives  in  a 
happy  old  age.  It  is  gratifying  to  be  able  to  recall  the 
names  of  thirty-seven  still  living  brethren  of  the  New 
Jersey  Conference  with  whom  the  class  of  1842  held 
Conference  relations  a  longer  or  shorter  time  from  the 
close  of  that  year  till  the  opening  of  1857,  when  the 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  199 


Newark  Conference  was  officially  separated  from  the  New 
Jersey.  Here  follow  the  names  in  alphabetical  order: 
Revs.  Aaron  E.  Ballard,  Henry  ^I.  Brown,  Peter  Y. 
Calder,  Thomas  C.  Carman,  Philij)  Cline,  John  P.  Con- 
nelly, John  I.  Corson,  Edward  H.  Durell,  Caleb  K. 
Fleming,  William  Franklin,  Jacob  B.  Graw,  John  J. 
draw,  Thomas  Hanlon,  Robert  S.  Harris,  John  S. 
Heisler,  Charles  W.  Heisley,  Charles  E.  Hill,  Samuel 
M.  Hudson,  George  Hughes,  Alvin  M.  Lake,  William 
Margerum,  Albert  jSIatt'.iews,  George  H.  Neal,  Hamilton 
S.  Norris,  William  B.  Osborn,  Samuel  E.  Post,  Matthias  H. 
Shimp,  Thomas  D.  Sleeper,  John  L.  Souder,  William  C. 
Stockton, Elwood  H.Stokes,  RIordecai  C.Stokes,  Richard 
Thorn,  James  Vansant,  William  Walton,  Edwin  Waters, 
and  Thomas  S.  Wilson.  Hail,  veteran  comrades  in  "the 
good  fight  of  faith,"  till  we  "lay  hold  on  eternal  life!  " 

Newark  Conference. 

In  1865  the  mother  Conference  issued  a  "  Memorial" 
volume  containing  a  record  of  all  the  ministers  in  its 
fellowship  who  had  lived  and  died  up  to  that  time.  It 
was  a  book  of  thrilling  interest.  The  Newark  Confer- 
ence in  1888  took  action  looking  toward  the  compila- 
tion of  a  similar  volume,  but  after  several  postpone- 
ments the  project  was  abandoned  in  1892.  This  fact 
suggested  to  the  writer  the  idea  of  incorporating  a  me- 
morial chapter  in  the  present  volume,  which  of  neces- 
sity must  be  doife  on  a  limited  scale.  It  will  at  least 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  tJicsaurus  or  dictionary  for  con- 
venient reference,  with  brief  jiersonal  reminiscences 
added.  The  number  of  names  on  our  death  roll,  ex- 
tending from  1858  to  1896,  inclusive,  is  ninety-six.  All 
the  essential  facts  in  each  case  are  gi\'en  in  the  tabu- 
lated form  published  in  the  Conference  Minutes,  which 
we  here  reproduce: 


200 


Sunset  Memories. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 
"  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.' 


Place  of  Death. 


N.J   

,  N.J  

:waik.  N.  J. 
■    ce.  N.J. 


Ill     1    N  \ 


1864,11, 
18641  Ve 
.S64lja. 


I.X.J. 
,N.  J. 
N.  J... 
illc.  Fla 

\^ 

,N.  J.. 


ert  l!,.yd  Var.l  .. 
J.ihii  S..nford  Swaim. 

my  lic.ehm  

:.c  N.  Fclch  

Jnlin  D.  lilaln  

liaMlinlon.ew  Wc^a.. 
Thomas  Walters  

?rt  I..  l).ishiell... 
William  H.  l)i,  kcrs„i 
Sylvester  H.  OiHlykc 


Kel). 
Mar, 

Mar. 


..■yC.iy,  N.J. 
riswood.N  J. 
<inu  Kid;;o.  N. 
2.  1870  Clarkcsville.  N.  J 


liridgcville.  N.  J 

Madison.  N.  J  

H.anover.  N.  J  

Dcnvillo.  N.  J  

Newark.  N.  J  

Hainosville,  N.  J.  . 
Peril.  .\ml,..y  N.J. 
I'ort  lervis,  N.  V.  .. 
Mcirrislown.  N.  J... 


u  ,,  N.  V, 

N.  I.... 
,  N.  J.... 

N.  J.... 

N.  J.  .. 

^.  ].... 
iiv.N.  J. 


J.... 
N.J. 


N  J 

^  N.J  

ik,  N.  J.... 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  201 


IN  MEMOKIAM— Continued. 


No. 

Name. 

Date  of 
Death. 

Place  of  Death. 

Age. 

Years 
inMin- 

6.' 
6- 

John  Kanll  

James  X.' Keys'?:;::;;'. 

Willi,,!!,  C.  W  i-uins... 

1  eh.    4.  1887  Sereeantsville.  X.J... 
\l)r.   I,.  .H87  Ilaekensack.  X.  J.... 
\l.,v  14,  !^S7  lie.  kertown,  N.  J  ... 
s,.,,",      ,   ,  .  --  1'  ,,,  ,.,„,    \-  t 

66 
74 
63 
66 

37 
51 
33 

|a!!,e.  M.  r.iille   

>1.>.„K   1  ake.  N  J.... 

78 

43 
5' 

6^ 
fin 

lames  H.  l-llinv  ■!!  

William  ll!i,i..ii,  

Cornelius  Clark.  .Sr  

I..,,.'  r,: 

\[)r.     8,  i8X.S 

1  .1,.  ,i,ille.  N.  V  

*|{'  1"*'  '1 

54 
6^ 
75 

32 
36 

6S 
7.'. 

I'eter  I).  D.ay  

John  Scarlett  

cr.H.k  s.  va„/ie\.';; ; ; ; ; 

UcL  i'888 
I.in.    iR,  18S0 

New  Pro\  idence.  N.J. 
Or.ine,'.  X.  1  

r''  "'■""'u'.  n;  j;';;; 

77 
86 
63 
75 

56 
48 
39 
54 

i  ,,Ms.  \.  V... 

.\n,.'.s  n'  r.di'v,; ; ;;.;;, 

li.N,  I  

\  1  

85 

61 

"4 

lleiijaniii,   1  l.,v  

Cl.,,llr,  M.,x1m,,v  

■    ,  V  .'■  '■'  'v 

84 
18 

59 
8 

..\ml.r..,e  s.  C'. .1,1 , a.  ■„  .  .  .  . 

36 

].,\,u   V.    M  tlii^ 

N  -  W  C   

\ 

77 

':.'> 

40 

N  :i  

N.'i.;.', '.. 

59 
21 

Al.  v.illder   L.  l;riLL'   .  . 

.■..nk    N.  1:  

1  li/,,h.  ih,  N,  1  

70 

42 
43 
45 

.Mlpcrt  H.  I'.ro'.vn   

38 

|a,  ,,l>  P.  Kort  

J.-ial,  F.  Canli,  l.i  

Thomas  H.  Ja.ol,,,..,  . 

\r"'"k:  n;  j:;.;;;;; 

75 
87 

50 
65 
27 

59 

Martin  llerr  

William  Dav  

'v'j::: 

75 

5' 
44- 

Charles  H.  Ilass.-tl  

\\^is,,„  a;  m,m  III.  ii..r " " 

(  \  ieliiiis   A,  W  -mil  n^li 

30 
58 

S 
34 

43 
70 

'9 

tl 
5 
48 

c)4    iiuiiiy  i.iiiz   

95    Lewis  (i.  (jrifTifli  

q6  IJohn  O.  Winner  

i-'eb.  5,    cai„'.ie„.'x';'j ;.;..:;. 

Mar.    4.  189611'enningion,  N.J  

7< 

33 
70 

Rev.  IcHABOD  B.  Carmichael  was  converted  in  1834, 
when  a  boy,  and  became  a  useful  member  and  oftit  cr  of 
the  Church.  After  many  struggles  he  yielded  to  tlie 
call  of  God  and  the  Church  in  1853,  by  leaving  liis  busi- 
ness as  a  farmer  in  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  and  serving 
as  junior  preacher  on  Harmony  Circuit,  Warren  ("ounty, 
N.  J.  The  next  spring  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
New  Jersey  Conference  and  returned  to  the  same  circuit; 
in  1855,  1856,  laborctl  on  Sparta  Circuit,  Sussex  County, 
and  in  1857  was  appointed  to  Vernon  Circuit,  where  his 


202 


Sunset  Memories. 


brief  itinerant  career  was  ended  by  death  within  the 
Conference  year.  He  was  twice  married,  each  time  to 
a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Reuben  Vansyckle.  His  death  was 
triumphant,  his  la,st  words  being,  "  Jesus  is  with  me."  He 
is  pleasantly  remembered  as  a  devoted,  earnest,  and  use- 
ful preacher. 

Rev.  John  Knox  Shaw  was  born  in  Ireland  April  lo, 
1800,  and  within  a  year  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
this  country.  He  was  marked  by  superior  ability  in  the 
pulpit,  great  diligence  in  his  pastoral  work,  and  eminent 
usefulness  in  promoting  the  material  and  educational 
interests  of  the  Church.  He  "took  an  active  part  in 
founding  the  Pennington  Seminary;"  indeed,  "all  the 
early  records  give  him  the  credit  of  having  originated 
the  school,"  so  that  in  a  large  sense  it  may  be  said  of 
him  that  he  was  the  founder  of  tliat  great  institution. 
Fifteen  years  after  attending  liis  impressive  funeral  serv- 
ices at  Trinity  (Warren  Street)  Churcli,  Newark,  just 
then  completed  through  his  industrious  toil,  tlie  writer 
became  pastor  of  the  same  church,  where  he  found  his 
name  lovingly  embalmed  in  the  memories  and  hearts  of 
the  people.  It  was  fitting  that  his  three  sons,  of  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  inheriting,  with  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Run- 
yon,  of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  the  noble  qualities  of  their 
father,  should  give  expression  to  their  reverence  for  his 
memory  in  a  superb  volume  of  four  hundred  pages, 
bearing  title.  The  Life  and  Words  of  tlie  Rev.  John 
Knox  Shaw  (1887).  To  this  was  added  a  beautiful 
tribute  by  the  widowed  mother,  when  at  her  more  recent 
death  she  left  the  generous  bequest  of  $1,000  to  the 
Centenary  Fund  and  Preachers'  Aid  Society  of  the  New- 
ark Conference.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  in  1825,  and  spent  thirty-three  years  in 
active,  successful  work,  having  been  a  member  of  the 
General  Conferences  of  1844  and  1848. 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  203 


Rev.  Thomas  McCakroll,  a  man  of  singular  mod- 
esty, purity,  and  lovableness,  was  born  in  Chester  County, 
Pa.,  August  12,  1800.  I  was  in  a  position  to  know  him 
better  than  I  could  know  most  other  men.  As  a  friend, 
a  preacher  in  charge,  and  a  presiding  elder,  he  was 
found  in  my  experience  to  be  without  superiors  and  with 
few  equals.  He  was  a  strong  man  in  the  pulpit  and 
genial  in  social  life;  was  a  diligent  student,  and  in  his 
later  years  devoted  himself  with  good  suc  cess  to  liie 
study  of  the  original  languages  of  Scripture.  A\"hile 
recently  visiting  Mr.  Thomas  McCarrt)ll  at  Morristown, 
N.  J.,  the  writer  enjoyed  the  great  satisfaction  of  look- 
ing again  upon  the  well-])resej"vcd  librai)-  of  his  father, 
with  its  choice  collection  of  old  and  valuable  works. 
Besides  the  son  named  he  left  two  others,  William  and 
Charles,  both  of  whom  have  since  followed  him  in  death, 
the  funeral  services  of  the  former  being  conducted  by 
the  writer  and  Dr.  John  Atkinson.  A  few  years  earlier 
had  come  the  obsequies  of  the  vcneral)le  and  beloved 
mother,  in  which  the  writer  assisted,  it  liaving  yet  earlier, 
i860,  devolved  on  him  to  preach  the  funeral  discourse 
of  the  venerated  husband  and  father  at  the  Halsey  Street 
Church,  Newark,  and  to  prepare  his  memoir.  The  only 
daughter,  Miss  Eli/a,  is  living  in  loving  remembrance 
of  her  dead.  Brother  McCarroll  entered  the  Pliiladel- 
phia  Conference  in  1829,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1852. 

Rev.  Thomas  W.  Pearson  was  born  in  Hull,  Kngland, 
December  8,  1804,  and  came  to  us  by  transfer  from  Troy 
Conference  to  the  New  Jersey  in  1S52,  his  successive 
charges  being  Asbury  and  Trinity,  Statcn  Island,  two 
years  each;  Otisville,  N.  Y.,  two  years;  Asl)ur\-  again, 
two  years;  and  New  Providence,  N.  J.,  where  he  soon 
died.  The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  his  intimate 
friend,  the  Rev.  J.  L,  G,  McKown,  the  interment  being  at 


204 


Sunset  Memories. 


xXsbury,  Staten  Island.  1  was  his  successor  at  Trinity, 
and  served  as  a  bearer  at  his  funeral.  His  excellent 
wife  survived  him  till  July  8,  1894,  living  and  dying  at 
the  happy  home  on  Staten  Island  of  their  only  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Albert  Vroom.  Brother  Pearson  was  a  good 
scholar,  a  superior  preacher,  and  a  successful  pastor. 

Rev.  Dayton  F.  Reeij  was  born  in  Simsbury,  Conn., 
March  16,  1817,  and  converted  at  twenty,  when  straight- 
way he  began  laboring  w  ith  zeal  for  the  conversion  of 
others;  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1839,  and  devoted  the 
next  ten  years  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  winning 
many  souls  to  Christ;  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  New 
Jersey  Conference  in  1850,  and  went  as  a  blazing  comet 
from  charge  to  cliarge,  never  remaining  in  any  one  more 
than  a  single  year ;  in  1857  broke  down  in  health;  and 
in  i860  died,  "after  a  brief,  but  violent,  attack  of  con- 
gestion of  the  brain."  In  originality  of  thought  and 
vividness  of  descri])tion,  especially  in  presenting  the 
darker  shades  of  truth,  he  was  almost  without  an  equal. 
As  we  heard  him  again  and  again,  his  pictures  of  "judg- 
ment and  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  devour  the  ad- 
\ersarics,"  were  startling  in  the  extreme.  His  book, 
J)////<-s,  Tests,  and  Coinfoits,  was  a  soul-stirring  one,  but 
never  attained  a  circulation  equal  to  its  merits.  He  was 
a  man  of  deep  and  uniform  piety.  His  estimable  widow 
is  still  living  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Manninc;  Force  stood  very  high  in  both  stature 
and  influence.  His  ministry  extended  over  the  long 
period  of  fifty-one  years.  During  much  of  this  time 
"he  held  a  commanding  rank  among  his  brethren,"  and 
was  "  the  compeer  of  Lawrence  McCombs,  Jose])h  Ly- 
brand,  Joseph  Rusling,  Richard  W.  Petherbridge,  and 
Cliarles  Pitman."  He  was  elected  to  six  General  Con- 
ferences—1824,  1828,  1832,  1836,  1840,  and  1S48.  The 
word  "  Jioney "  was  a  favorite  one  with  him,  and  he 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  205 


carried  in  his  spirit  and  his  life  a  rich  measure  of  the 
sweetness  signified  by  tlie  word.  He  was  one  of  my 
good  presiding  elders.     His  end  was  blessed. 

Rev.  John  L.  Lenhar  r,  a  native  of  Pennsy  lvania, "  was 
chaplain  in  the  United  Slates  Xa\  \-,"  and  came  to  his 
death  when  "the  ship  Cia/il'cr/a/it/ wis  sunk  in  Hampton 
Roads,  Ya.,  by  the  ironclad  Mcniinac."  He  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  minister  to  sacrifice  his  life  in  the 
war  against  the  Rebellion.  He  had  occupied  a  good 
class  of  appointments,  his  last  one  having  been  Cross 
Street,  Paterson,  where  I  came  to  know  him  more  fully 
than  before,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Cieneral  Confer- 
ence of  1856.  He  was  a  forcible  preacher  and  a  warm, 
genial  friend.  With  a  strong  muscular  body  and  a  fiery 
disposition,  he  might,  but  for  the  grace  of  Cod,  have 
become  a  pugilist.  Those  were  beautiful  words  whicli 
he  wrote  to  a  friend  just  before  the  fatal  attack  of  the 
Merrimac  :  "  It  is  just  as  near  my  heavenly  home  from 
the  old  Ciaiiberland      from  any  other  place." 

Rev.  Svlvester  Armstroxc,  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York  in  1S26,  was  a  frail  man  in  l)ody,  but  strong, 
according  to  his  name,  in  mind  and  heart,  in  con\  iction 
and  expression.  "  \\'hen  in  his  best  frame  of  mind  and 
free  from  physical  j^ain,  his  eloquent  periods  produced 
a  thrilling  effect.  .  .  .  He  was  a  strong  antisla\-cr\-  man 
and  fearless  in  the  utterance  of  his  \  iews."  He  possessed 
the  spirit  of  a  reformer  and  excelled  as  a  debater.  His 
peaceful  death  occurred  at  Plainfield,  X.  J.,  the  last  ap- 
pointment in  his  brief  ministry. 

Rev.  William  M.  Burrou(_. hs,  born  in  Hopewell 
Township,  N.  J.,  July  21,  1814,  "was  a  man  of  even 
temper,  a  lover  of  peace,  and  a  promoter  of  harmony." 
"  His  mental  powers  were  solid,  rather  than  brilliant, 
and  his  sermons  were  compact,  instructive,  and  useful." 
He  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  people  of  his  various 
U 


206 


Sunset  Memories. 


charges.  I  heard,  never  to  forget,  his  last  impressive 
testimony  in  love  feast  a  Sunday  or  two  before  his  sud- 
den death.  He  told  of  his  conversion  and  call  to  the 
ministry,  of  his  severe  struggles  in  yielding  to  the  call, 
and  the  joy  that  had  come  to  him  in  his  work.  Apo- 
plexy had  marked  him  for  a  victim.  He  left  a  beloved 
wife  and  three  daughters. 

Rev.  George  W.  White  during  his  short  ministry 
"gathered  gems  for  the  Master's  crown,"  and  "left  the 
impress  of  a  saintly  life  behind  him."  His  charges  were 
Fairfield  and  Pine  Brook,  two  years;  Chatham  and 
Livingston,  two  years;  Verona,  where  he  entered  into 
rest,  less  than  half  a  year.  His  death  was  sudden.  He 
Avas  born  in  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  entered  the  Newark 
Conference  in  i860,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
two. 

Rev.  AV^esley  Robertson  was  born  near  New  Provi- 
dence, N.  J.,  and  converted  at  Rahway  under  the  minis- 
try of  the  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Sargent;  went  out  on  his 
first  circuit  in  1835,  and  a  year  later  entered  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference;  labored  in  twelve  different  charges 
during  the  ne.xt  twenty-one  years,  and  became  a  super- 
numerary in  1857.  His  ministry  was  a  very  successful 
one,  during  which  "he  received  over  eighteen  hundred 
persons  into  the  Church  on  probation."  He  was  gentle 
in  disposition  and  manner,  kind  and  sympathetic  in 
social  life  and  in  the  pulpit,  yet  was  not  wanting  in 
earnestness.  Dying  far  away  from  home,  at  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  he  said,  "  Tell  my  friends  not  to  weep  for  me; 
I  am  going  home — sweet  home."    AVe  all  loved  him. 

Rev.  William  Monroe  Lippincott,  only  son  of  the 
Rev.  Caleb  A.  Lippincott,  was  born  at  Newton,  N.  J., 
October  19,  1834,  and  began  his  very  brief  ministerial 
career  by  sup])lying  the  vacancy  at  New  Providence  oc- 
casioned by  the  death  of  the  Rev.  T.  W.  Pearson  in  i860. 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  207 


Entering  Newark  Conference  tlie  next  spring,  he  was 
appointed  to  ]r\ington,  where  iic  continued  two  years, 
and  was  tlien  stationed  at  Montclair,  wliere  after  one 
year  his  health  totally  failed,  the  disease  being  con- 
sumption. Brilliant  and  siiccessfid  in  life,  he  was  sub- 
limely victorious  in  death.  "  He  often  repeated  the 
expression,  '  I  am  on  the  sure  foundation.  Glory  to  God, 
I  am  resting  in  the  arms  of  Jesus.'  " 

Rev.  Warren  C.  Nelson  was  born  at  Cold  Spring, 
N.  J.,  November  i8,  1805,  and  converted  at  twenty- 
three;  was  employed  as  a  supply  on  New  Prospect  Cir- 
cuit in  1835,  and  next  year  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Philadelphia  Conference.  Thenceforward  he  labored 
efficiently  on  eleven  different  charges  until  1852,  when 
his  health  failed.  Previous  to  the  war  he  moved  his 
family  into  Virginia,  where  he  lost  all  his  property. 
True  to  the  old  flag,  "he  rejoiced  greatly  when  Peters- 
burg, his  place  of  residence,  was  captured  by  our  arms." 
His  severe,  brief  illness  found  liim  ready  and  anxious  to 
depart. 

Rev.  Oliver  B.vugelev  was  born  near  Springfield, 
N.  J.,  April  II,  1807,  and  was  converted  at  Alorristown, 
.N.  J.,  in  1823,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John 
Potts.  Entering  the  Philadelpliia  Conference  in  1832, 
he  filled  fifteen  charges:  three  in  Pennsylvania,  two  in 
New  York,  and  ten  in  New  Jersey,  filling  one  of  the  last 
group  a  second  time.  His  record  "  sums  up  thirty-three 
years  in  the  ministry — twenty-two  in  active  service, 
eleven  on  the  retired  list."  His  death  was  very  sudden, 
but  sudden  death  was  sudden  glory. 

Rev.  S.vmuel  Yorke  Monroe,  U.D.,  was  born  at 
Mount  Holly,  N.  J.,  July  i,  1816,  and  converted  in 
Philadelphia  in  1833.  Though  not  a  stalwart  or  impos- 
ing man  in  physique,  he  belonged  to  the  race  of  true 
giants  in  mental  and  moral  strength.    His  parentage  and 


208 


Sunset  Memories. 


home  life  gave  type  in  no  small  degree  to  his  preeminent 
character.  He  was  a  man  of  mark  from  the  beginning 
of  his  itinerant  ministry,  as  is  shown  by  the  character  of 
his  charges.  Eviry  position  he  was  called  to  occni)y 
was  filled  by  liim  with  eminent  success.  Superiority 
belonged  to  the  man;  and  had  he  at  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1864  been  elevated  to  the  episcopacy,  the 
office  and  himself  would  alike  have  l)een  honored.  Ah, 
it  was  no  wonder  that  a  deej)  wail  of  anguish  went  up 
from  the  great  heart  of  the  Church  in  1867  over  the 
mystery  involved  in  the  peculiar  death  of  such  a  man! 
He  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1843,  and  was 
transferred  to  Newark  Conference  in  1864.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of  1856,  i860,  and 
1864,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  Church  R.xtension  Society. 

Rev.  Reuben  Vansyckle,  a  classmate  with  Dr.  Mon- 
roe, was  "  an  interesting  preacher,  original,  quaint,  and 
sensible."  Much  of  his  life  was  a  struggle  w^ith  disease, 
constraining  him  shortly  before  his  death  to  remark,  "  I 
have  tried  my  best  to  rise  above  my  disease,  but  I  guess 
it  will  master  me  after  all."  Having  embraced  and 
kissed  his  children,  he  said,  "  All  is  ready,  all  is  ready.". 
To  the  question,  "Is  Jesus  with  you?"  he  replied, 
"  Yes,  glory  to  God,"  and  soon  passed  away.  He  was 
born  in  November,  1822,  and  converted  in  his  seven- 
teenth year. 

Rev.  John  Simmhrkield  Coit,  brother  to  the  Rev. 
Charles  S.  Coil,  w;is  born  September  17,  182S,  and 
transferred  in  ihe  spring  of  1867  from  the  Newark  Con- 
ference to  the  Des  Moines,  as  a  member  of  which  he 
died  of  typhoid  fever  within  a  year.  Little  Mary  had 
died  two  days  before,  and  the  bodies  of  father  and  child 
were  conveyed  in  one  casket  for  interment  to  Bloom- 
field,  N.  J.,  his  native  place.    As  wc  tenderly  remember, 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  209 

the  scene  at  the  funeral  was  deeply  solemn  and  affect- 
ing. His  triumphant  death  was  followed  recently  by 
that  of  the  wife  and  motlier;  but  two  cultured  daughters 
and  a  son,  Dr.  H.  Leiber  Coit,  are  left  to  illustrate  in 
their  character  and  lives  the  excellences  of  their  honored 
dead. 

Rk.v.  Hiram  Mattison,  D.U.,  was  born  in  Herkimer 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  8,  1811,  and  joined  the  Black 
River  Conference  in  the  summer  of  1836,  two  years 
after  a  very  notable  conversion.  He  soon  rose  to  prom- 
inence and  influence,  which  continued  with  increase 
during  his  busy  life.  His  preaching  was  of  a  very  high 
order,  and  his  versatility  of  talent  in  both  speaking  and 
writing  was  remarkable.  My  special  relations  to  him 
are  set  forth  on  other  pages,  and  more  at  large  in  his 
Life  and  Character  by  the  writer.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  General  Conferences  of  1848,  1852,  and  1856. 

Rev.  William  Stikeman  was  born  at  Port  Rich- 
mond, N.  Y.,  August  9,  1845,  and  in  his  very  brief  life 
and  ministry  gave  a  succession  of  striking  illustrations 
of  the  grace  of  God  in  saving  and  keeping,  endow- 
ing and  crowning.  First  came  his  thorough  conver- 
sion in  1861,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  James 
M.  Freeman  at  Trinity  Church,  Staten  Island;  then  his 
call  to  work  for  souls  and  his  prompt  response  to  the 
call;  then  his  licensure  to  preach,  and  his  employment 
as  a  supply  on  successive  charges  while  yet  in  his  teens; 
his  admission  to  Conference  in  1866,  followed  by  his 
entire  sanctification  in  1867,  and,  later,  by  his  happy 
marriage;  his  ordination  as  deacon  in  1868  and  marked 
success  in  his  last  charge;  his  utter  failure  of  health, 
joy  in  suffering,  victorious  death,  and  jubilant  admis- 
sion among  tlie  "early  crowned."  The  death  of  one  so 
young,  so  pure,  so  useful  and  promising  was  sincerely 
mourned. 


210 


Sunset  Memories. 


Rev.  Waters  Burrows  was  born  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J., 
April  19,  1790,  was  converted  in  early  manhood,  and 
entered  the  Philadelphia  Conference  in  i8i6,  his  labors 
thenceforward  co\'«ring  the  extensive  territory  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences. 
When,  in  1837,  his  original  Conference  was  divided 
and  the  New  Jersey  Conference  formed  the  young  men 
of  the  latter  looked  upon  him  as  one  of  their  leaders, 
and  as  such  found  him  generous  and  helpful.  He 
served  two  full  terms  as  presiding  elder.  His  "  preach- 
ing was  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  but 
in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power."  He  died 
peacefully  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Atward, 
of  Basking  Ridge,  N.  J.,  and  his  honored  grave  is  at 
New  Providence. 

Rev.  Henrv  Trumhower  was  born  in  Bucks  County, 
Pa.,  June  20,  1822,  and  reared  in  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
tlieran  Churcli,  but  in  his  nineteenth  year  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  two  years  after  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  emj)loyed  as  second  junior 
preacher  on  Clinton  Circuit;  in  1844  entered  the  New 
Jersey  Conference,  and  spent  the  next  twelve  years  in 
active  pastoral  work,  the  balance  of  his  ministry  fluctu- 
ating between  the  effective  and  supernumerary  relations. 
We  knew  him  as  a  genial  friend  and  an  earnest,  de- 
voted minister.  In  his  last  sickness  and  death  he  was 
signally  triumphant.  Happily,  he  has  been  succeeded 
in  the  ministry  by  a  useful  and  honored  son,  the  Rev. 
William  M.  Trumbower. 

Rev.  George  Bangh.\rt  was  a  notable  man  in  his 
day.  His  active  ministry,  beginning  in  181 2,  covered  a 
period  of  forty-one  years,  all  of  which  were  spent  on  the 
soil  of  his  native  State,  New  Jersey,  excepting  four 
years  on  North  Philadelphia  District  and  one  year  on 
Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  Circuit.    His  preaching  was  full  of 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  211 


earnestness  and  pathos,  and  as  a  pastor  he  excelled  in 
warm  and  active  sympathy  with  his  people.  He  was 
greatly  esteemed  and  beloved  in  the  community,  War- 
ren County,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  born  March  lo,  1782, 
and  passed  so  many  of  the  closing  years  of  his  life. 

Rev.  John  McClintock,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  October  27,  1814,  and  as  a  preacher,  a 
scholar,  and  an  educator  held  a  place  in  the  Church  of 
marked  preeminence,  making  his  name  and  character 
very  widely  known.  His  simplicity  was  refreshing.  At 
the  dedication  of  a  church  in  Poughkeepsie  we  were 
assigned  to  the  same  home  for  entertainment,  in  which 
it  fell  to  our  lot  to  occupy  the  same  sleeping  room  and 
!)ed.  Was  he  demure  or  reticent.'  Just  the  reverse; 
he  was  as  cheerful  and  chatty  as  if  I  had  been  his  full 
ecpial.  "  While  a  boy  engaged  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
Methodist  Book  Room  in  New  York  he  made  a  dis- 
tinct profession  of  conversion ;  "  graduated  at  tlie 
University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1835,  and  entered  the 
Philadelphia  Conference;  in  1836  became  professor  of 
mathematics  in  l^ickinson  College;  in  1840  took  the 
chair  of  ancient  languages;  aided  in  translating  Nean- 
der's  Life  of  Christ;  prepared,  with  Dr.  Crooks,  elemen- 
tary text-books  in  Latin  and  Greek;  from  1848  to  1856 
was  editor  of  The  Methodist  Quarterly  Rernew;  in  1856 
was  elected  a  delegate,  with  Bishop  Simpson,  to  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Conferences  of  England  and  Ire- 
land ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of 
1852,  1856,  i860,  and  1868.  On  returning  he  became 
pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York;  in  i860,  ac- 
cepted the  pastorate  of  the  American  Chapel  in  Paris;  in 
1864,  returned  to  the  United  States  and  was  again  pas- 
tor of  St.  Paul's.  In  1867  he  became  president  of  Drew 
Theological  Seminary  at  Madison,  N.  J.,  where  he  also 
edited,  in  cooperation  with  Dr.  James  Strong,  the  great 


212 


Sunset  Memories. 


Cyclopuuiia  bearing  their  names,  only  the  first  three  vol- 
umes of  whicli  had  ai)peared  prior  to  liis  death. 

Rev.  Benjamin  1'"rank.lin  Simpson  was  born  at  York, 
Me.,  December  30,  1835,  and  converted  when  about 
nineteen.  After  ]jassing  two  years  at  the  Concord  Bib- 
lical Institute,  he  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Newark 
Conference  in  1862,  and  labored  tlie  next  two  years  at 
Roseville,  Newark.  He  was  continued  on  trial  and  ap- 
pointed to  I'assaic,  where  he  was  drafted  into  the 
United  States  service  July  13,  1864,  and  felt  it  his  duty 
to  go.  Having  fought  in  one  of  the  hardest  battles  of 
the  war  he  was  appointed  in  October  to  a  chaplaincy  ; 
but  he  was  unordained.  What  could  be  done  "i  The 
Quarterly  Conference  of  his  church  recommended  him 
lo  tlie  Genesee  Annual  Conference,  soon  to  meet,  for 
deacon's  orders,  besides  which  a  paper  indorsing  the 
recommendation  was  signed  by  several  leading  ministers 
of  the  Newark  Conference.  Being  his  presiding  elder, 
I  went  with  liim  to  Klmira,  N.  Y.,  and  stated  our  errand 
to  Bisliop  Simpson,  who  brouglit  the  case  before  the 
Conference,  whicli  after  hearing  all  the  facts  took  favor- 
able action  by  electing  him  to  deacon's  orders.  The 
ordination  by  Bishop  Simpson  followed  at  his  private 
rooms.  Tlie  failure  of  hisliealtli  in  1869  was  succeeded 
by  montlis  of  patient  suffering  and  a  peaceful  dealli. 

Rev.  Cai.eh  Atmoke  Liimmnco  i  t  was  born  in  Burling- 
ton County,  N.  J.,  July  26,  1803,  of  Quaker  parentage  ; 
in  1825  was  i)owerful]y  awakened  at  Pcmberton,  N.  J., 
under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Tlionias  Neall  and 
soundly  converted;  in  1829  was  sent  by  Presiding 
Elder  Cliarles  Pitman  to  Tuckerton  Circuit,  and  a  year 
later  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference;  was  "a 
burning  and  a  shining  light  "  for  forty-one  years  ;  and  in 
1871  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.  Of  a  large,  com- 
manding person,  "  lie  was  a  natural  orator,  and  by  prac- 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  213 


tice  he  acquired  the  complete  mastery  of  liis  voice.  His 
mind  was  full  of  imagery,  his  illustrations  original  and 
pertinent,  and  his  powers  of  description  remarkable. 
.  .  .  He  was  preeminently  a  revivalist."  His  last 
words  were,  "Lord  Jesus,  take  care  of  me  !  " 

Rev.  Alfred  Cookman  came  to  the  Newark  Con- 
ference by  transfer  in  the  spring  of  1871,  but  a  few 
months  before  his  death.  The  strong  powers  of  mind 
and  heart,  expression  and  life,  so  happily  blended  in 
him  have  seldom  been  equaled.  Amplification  here  is 
rendered  needless  by  Dr.  Ridgaway's  widely  circulated 
volume,  Tlie  Life  of  Alfred  Cookman.  The  writer's 
personal  accjuaintance  with  him,  though  limited,  was 
sufficient  to  indicate  that  he  was  unusually  endowed 
with  both  gifts  and  grace.  Two  of  his  sons  are  usefully 
pursuing  the  high  vocation  adorned  by  the  father — the 
Revs.  Frank  S.  Cookman,  of  the  Newark  Conference, 
and  William  W.  Cookman,  of  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence. 

Rev.  George  Oliver  Carmichael,  nephew  to  the 
Rev.  Ichabod  B.  Carmichael,  was  born  in  Sullivan 
County,  N.  Y.,  October  31,  1S33.  With  a  very  limited 
early  education,  after  his  conversion  at  seventeen  he  ap- 
plied himself  diligently  to  the  gaining  of  knowledge  ; 
was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1857, 
having  traveled  one  year  under  Presiding  Elder  Day, 
and  thenceforward  filled  nine  different  charges  until  re- 
leased by  death  in  1872.  His  was  a  genial  heart  and  a 
genial  home.  He  was  a  good,  useful  preacher  and  a 
skillful  financier.  The  day  of  his  funeral  is  remembered 
as  among  the  coldest  of  the  season. 

Rev.  Stacy  Watkinson  Hili.iard,  born  near  Yin- 
centbwn,  N.  J.,  November  14,  1823,  was  a  man  of  far 
more  than  ordinary  capabilities.  His  unfaltering  cour- 
age and  self-reliance  greatly  aided  him  in  his  work. 


214 


Sunset  Memories. 


He  ardently  loved  his  brethren,  and  was  much  loved 
by  them.  He  served  full  terms  on  two  different  dis- 
tricts, Newton  and  Elizabeth,  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Conference  in  1864  and  a  reserve  delegate  to 
those  of  1868  and  1872.  His  conversion  occurred 
during  a  revival  at  Pemberton,  N.  J.,  under  the  Rev. 
Thomas  McCarroll  in  1842,  and  was  followed  by  a 
course  of  study  in  Pennington  Seminary.  In  1845  he 
went  to  his  first  circuit,  Allentown,  under  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Winner,  presiding  elder,  and  next  year  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  New  Jersey  Conference.  His  useful 
career  of  twenty-eight  years  in  the  ministry  closed  at 
Perth  Amboy,  his  last  charge,  after  a  very  brief  illness. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Kelley  lias  been  sufficiently  cliarac- 
terized  in  another  connection  ;  but  this  item  of  un- 
written history  may  be  added:  In  the  spring  of  1873 
there  was  a  serious  faction  in  tlie  church  at  Port  Jcrvis, 
where  tlie  Conference  was  being  lield.  The  factious 
party  held  a  private  meeting  to  confer  respecting  a  new 
pastor,  the  time  of  the  old  one  liaving  expired.  After 
discussing  many  names  they  agreed  upon  several  to  be 
presented  to  Bisliop  Foster,  witli  a  request  that  one  of 
them  be  appointed.  Tlie  bislioj)  laid  th.e  matter  before 
his  cabinet,  which  elicited  various  expressions  of 
opinion.  The  case  was  felt  to  be  a  delicate  and  diffi- 
cult one  on  which  to  reach  a  decision.  My  term  on  the 
district  was  just  closing  ;  and  wlien  appealed  to  I  said, 
"  The  brethren  named  are  all  good  men,  but  unfortu- 
nately they  liave  been  asked  for  by  a  faction,  and  not 
by  tlie  great  body  of  the  church  or  its  representatives." 
"  Can  you  name  a  man  ?  "  "I  can."  "  Who  is  it  ?  "  to 
which  I  promptly  answered,  "  Benjamin  Kelley;  he  can 
be  appointed  as  pastor  of  the  whole  cliurch,  and  is  a 
man  thorouglily  s;ife  and  in  every  way  fully  competent." 
He  was   appointed,   with   the  happiest    results.  His 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  215 

ministry  began  in  1843,  and  continued  thirty-one  years 
with  eminent  success. 

Rev.  John  Hanlon  had  a  great  soul  in  a  frail  body. 
Born  in  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.,  June,  1836,  he  was 
converted  at  a  camp  meeting  in  the  same  county  in 
1852,  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1856,  and  admitted  to 
the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1857.  Desirous  of  greater 
educational  attainments,  he  entered  Rutgers  College,  at 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  three  years  after,  while  stationed 
at  Millstone  and  still  continuing  his  pastoral  work,  his 
college  course  being  completed  at  Weslejan  University, 
Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1863,  to  accomplish  which  he  was 
left  a  year  without  appointment.  A\'hile  he  was  stationed 
at  Hedding  Church,  Jersey  City,  I  came  to  know  him 
well  and  to  enjoy  association  with  him  in  his  home  and 
his  work.  He  was  a  very  superior  man  in  mind  and 
heart.  His  wonderful  sermon  at  Mt.  Tabor  in  1869 
made  a  deep  impression  and  is  still  remembered  by 
many.  Again  and  again  he  said,  as  death  approached, 
"It  is  sweet  to  die  in  Jesus,"  and  sent  affectionate 
messages  to  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hanlon,  and 
his  brotlier-in-law,  the  Rev.  John  Atkinson. 

Rkv.  RoiiF.RT  Boyd  Yard  was  born  at  Trenton,  N.  J., 
amid  the  best  of  social  and  religious  advantages, 
January  9,  1828,  was  converted  and  called  to  the  min- 
istry while  a  student  at  Pennington  Seminary,  and  in 
1848  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference.  "Prepos- 
sessing in  person,  pleasing  in  address,  rich  in  voice  and 
musical  skill,  and  with  a  highly  religions  character. 
Brother  Yard's  ministry  began  with  much  promise  and 
has  extended  over  the  space  of  twenty-seven  years  with 
honor  and  usefulness."  For  two  years  he  held  a  super- 
numerary relation,  and  for  three  years  was  a  chaplain  in 
the  army.  "  With  a  delicacy  and  tenderness  almost 
feminine  were  blended  in  a  marked  degree  the  qualities 


216 


Sunset  Memories. 


of  a  true  manhood."  By  all  of  us  who  knew  him  he 
was  greatly  beloved,  and  in  return  he  could  honestly 
say,  as  a  part  of  his  farewell  message,  "  I  love  the 
Newark  Conference."  That  full  message,  too  long  for 
quotation  here,  reads  like  an  inspired  homily.  "Jesus 
is  sweet,  sweet,  sweeter;  heaven  is  near,  nearer,  near- 
ing,"  were  his  last  words. 

Rev.  John  Sanford  Swaim  was  born  at  Chatham, 
N.  J.,  May  i,  1806,  and  was  converted  at  fourteen,  en- 
tered Philadelphia  Conference  in  1834,  and  became 
successively  a  member  of  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Con- 
ferences. His  ministry  extended  over  forty-one  years, 
the  last  eleven  of  which  were  passed  in  a  supernumerary 
relation.  "  His  preaching  was  always  instructive,  and 
appealed  rather  to  the  intellect  than  to  the  emotions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Ceneral  Conference  of  1856." 
He  was  my  predecessor  in  1854,  1855,  at  Commerce 
Street  Church,  Bridgeton,  N.  J.,  where  we  found  that  he 
and  his  family  were  greatly  beloved.  Having  been  ap- 
pointed in  1864  by  Bishop  Janes  as  missionary  to 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  he  found  the  climate  so  adapted  to 
his  health  that  he  made  it  his  permanent  home.  "I  am 
wonderfully  sustained "  were  among  his  last  words. 
His  body  was  brought  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  interment, 
after  appropriate  funeral  services,  at  the  Halsey  Street 
Church. 

Rev.  Henry  Boehm,  our  honored  centenarian,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  Va.,  June  8,  1775,  and  united 
with  the  Church  in  1798;  in  1800  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  the  next  year  entered  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference on  trial.  In  1808  he  became  the  traveling 
companion  and  assistant  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  five  years.  After  this  he  was  successively 
presiding  elder  of  Schuylkill,  Cliesapeake,  and  Delaware 
Districts.    At  lengtii  his  lot  fell  in  the  New  Jersey,  and 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  217 


then  in  tlie  Newark,  Conference,  in  both  of  whirh  he 
was  signall)'  lionored  and  beloved.  He  prcachetl  the 
first  si.'rinon  in  tlie  (lermaii  language  in  (ancinnati 
September  4,  iXoS,  and  before  1810  he  had  preached 
tiie  Gospel  in  (lernian  in  nearly  fourteen  Stales.  He 
jiassed  to  the  retired  list  in  1S37.  Among  our  de- 
lightful memories  is  his  remarkable  centennial  cele- 
bration at  Trinity  Church,  Jersey  City,  June  8,  1S75. 
His  sermon  — how  clear,  distinct,  impressive  !  Even 
after  that  he  preached  two  or  three  times,  once  as  late 
as  October  in  Woodrow  Church,  Staten  Island,  where 
three  months  later  his  solemn  funeral  services  were 
held. 

Rev.  Is.v.^^c  Newton  Felch  was  born  in  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  July  17,  1806,  and  converted  at  a  camji  meeting 
held  in  September,  1826;  was  licensed  to  preach  at 
Belleville,  N.  J.,  in  1S30,  tlie  Rev.  Charles  Pitman  being 
presiding  elder,  and  entered  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence in  1 83 1.  Thenceforward  his  useful  labors  were 
given  to  fifteen  pastoral  charges  and  two  districts,  cov- 
ering a  period  of  twent\-seven  ai  tive  v  ears.  "  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  ( 'DnfereiM  c  six  years,  of 
the  New  Jersey  twenty  years,  and  of  the  Newark  nine- 
teen years."  Always  a  good  man,  some  years  before  his 
departure  he  experienced  a  signal  uplift  in  his  religious 
life  and  cnjo\nient,  whereby  his  later  years  especially 
became  radiant  with  "  the  beauty  of  holiness."  His  de- 
voted wife  wrote  thus  to  the  Re\'.  M.  K.  Ellison,  his 
biographer  :  "  Having  been  married  forty-two  \'ears,  1 
would  state  that  in  e\'ery  resjiei  t  he  was  a  de\'oted  hus- 
band, a  tender  father.  Always  kind  and  cheerful  under 
every  circumstance  of  life,  ne\'ei-  omitting  any  Cliristian 
duty,  his  home  life  was  pure  and  holy."  His  death  was 
very  sudden,  but  as  safe  as  it  was  sudden.  And  now 
she  whom  he  so  ardently  and  so  worthily  loved  has  fol- 


218 


Sunset  Memories. 


lowed  him  to  the  eternal  rest.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Conferences  of  1848  and  1856. 

Rev.  John  D.  Blain,  born  in  Kingston,  N.  J.,  February 
24,  1819,  and  concerted  in  1835,  was  the  first  member 
of  the  class  of  1842  to  fall  in  death.  The  whole  class 
loved  him.  From  1852  till  1865  he  labored  with  great 
success  in  California,  both  as  pastor  and  presiding  elder. 
In  1856  "he  was  sent  to  General  Conference  by  a  flat- 
tering vote."  Returning  East  in  impaired  health,  he 
supplied  Washington  Heights,  New  York  city,  and  was 
agent  for  the  National  Temperance  Society  and  the 
Newark  Conference  Seminary.  In  1872  he  resumed 
Mork  in  Newark  Conference,  and  filled  two  charges, 
Belleville  and  Roseville,  Newark,  when  his  health  se- 
riously declined.  He  was  very  affable,  thoroughly  con- 
scientious, and  full  of  sympathy.  As  death  drew  near 
he  said,  "  I  am  at  the  crossing.  There  is  no  dark- 
ness."' 

Rkv.  Bartholomew  Weed  was  born  in  Ridgefield 
(Danbury),  Conn.,  March  6,  1793,  and  converted  at  six- 
teen. He  joined  the  Philadelphia  Conference  in  1817 
and  continued  in  the  effective  ranks  forty-seven  years, 
nine  of  which  he  spent  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri  as 
pastor  and  presiding  elder.  During  his  last  eleven  years 
of  life  he  was  cliaplain  of  Essex  County,  N.  J.,  Jail,  and 
was  called  to  minister  at  intervals  to  three  prisoners 
about  to  be  hanged.  "  His  entire  ministry,  including 
two  years  in  the  local  ranks,  extended  over  sixty-two 
years,  of  which  forty-four  were  given  to  New  Jersey, 
mostly  within  the  territory  of  the  Newark  Conference." 
He  had  a  passion  for  preaching;  and  when  told  by  his 
physician  tliat  his  work  was  probably  done  he  burst 
into  tears  and  said,  "  What  !  am  I  never  to  preach  the 
Gospel  any  more  "  Among  his  last  sayings  was  the 
golden  sentence,  "  I  find  firm  footing."   He  was  a  mem- 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  219 


ber  of  the  General  Conference  of  1844  from  the  Rock 
River  Conference. 

Rev.  Thomas  Walters  was  born  in  Enghmd  July 
18,  1824,  in  a  Methodist  home.  He  was  converted  at 
fifteen,  licensed  to  preach  at  nineteen,  and  soon  after 
took  his  place  on  the  circuit  plan  ;  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1847,  and  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Con- 
ference in  1849  after  i)rea(  hing  a  few  months  as  a  sup- 
ply under  Rev.  I.  N.  FcU  h,  presiding  cider.  Thence- 
forward he  efficiently  fdled  seventeen  different  charges 
in  country  or  in  city,  covering  a  period  of  thirty  years. 
He  was  a  genial  friend  and  an  intelligent  preacher,  with 
a  musical  voice  and  pleasant  manner.  His  death  was 
sincerely  mourned. 

Rev.  James  Avars  was  born  near  Bridgeton,  N.  J., 
February  20,  1805,  and  converted  when  about  twenty. 
He  was  a  man  of  notable  worth.  His  memoir  by  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  Heward  contained  this  concise  summary  of 
his  long  and  useful  ministr)':  "  He  was  five  years  on  cir- 
cuits, thirty  years  in  stations,  eight  years  a  presiding 
elder,  five  years  secretary  of  the  American  Sunday 
School  Union,  and  three  years  a  superannuate,  making 
in  all  fifly-one  years  a  minister  of  the  Go.spel."  He  was 
a  member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1852.  Of  his 
preaching  I  have  spoken  elsewhere.  His  friendships 
were  warm  and  abiding.  When  nearing  death  he  sent 
these  expressive  messages:  "Tell  him  [his  Conference 
classmate]  I  am  on  the  Rock;  "  "  Tell  them  [the  New- 
ark Preachers'  Meeting]  f  am  in  the  old  paths  ;  I  do 
not  want  any  newfangled  religion  ;  Jesus  Christ  is  a 
perfect  Saviour." 

Rev.  Jonathan  Towni.ev  Crank,  U.U.,  was  a  man 
of  sterling  character  and  abilities.  He  was  born  near 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  of  Presbyterian  parentage,  June  19, 
1819;  converted  in  his  early  youth;  joined  the  Metho- 


220 


Sunset  Memories. 


dist  Episcopal  Cluircli  ;  graduated  at  Princeton  College 
in  1843  ;  and  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  on 
trial  in  1845.  "  Not  often  is  it  our  j^rivilege  to  contem- 
plate so  harmonious,  earnest,  and  productive  a  ministe- 
rial career."  From  1849  to  1858  he  was  principal  of 
the  Conference  seminary  at  Pennington  ;  then  filled 
important  stations  till  1868,  following  which  he  served 
two  full  terms  as  presiding  elder  on  Newark  and  I'.liza- 
beth  Districts ;  was  a  member  of  four  General  Con- 
ferences— those  of  i860,  1864,  1868,  and  1872 — and 
a  reserve  delegate  to  that  of  1876  ;  and  became  the 
author  of  six  or  more  valuable  books  written  in  tlie 
purest  and  best  style  of  Englisii  composition.  His  hon- 
est mistake  in  writing  Holiness  tlie  Birtliriglit  of  all  God s 
Children  was  as  honestly  acknowledged  in  his  latest 
years.  His  death  was  very  unexpected  and  deeply 
deplored. 

Rev.  RoiiERT  Laurknson  Dashiell,  D.I).,  was  born 
at  Salisbury,  Md.,  June  25,  1S25,  and  was  converted  at 
fifteen.  He  came  to  the  Newark  Conference  in  i860, 
by  transfer  from  the  Baltimore,  and  had  filled  success- 
fully four  prominent  charges  when,  in  1868,  he  was  chosen 
president  of  Dickinson  College.  In  1872  he  was  made 
presiding  elder  of  the  Jersey  City  District,  but  in  a  few 
weeks  was  elected  by  the  General  Conference  one  of  the 
missionary  secretaries.  To  both  that  Conference  and 
the  one  in  1876  he  was  a  delegate,  being  in  the  latter 
year  reelected  to  the  same  office.  "  His  jjreaching  was 
full  of  the  passion  of  the  Cross  and  yearned  for  the  sal- 
vation of  souls.  .  .  .  Often  the  tide  of  his  eloquence 
flowed  like  a  stream  of  oil  on  fire."  His  sickness  ex- 
tended over  four  weary,  but  uncomplaining,  months. 
Looking  up,  he  said,  "The  shadows  are  all  in  the  valley, 
the  hilltops  are  gilded  with  glory  beyond." 

Rev.. William  H.  Dickerson  was  born  in  Berkshire, 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  221 


N.  J.,  May  23,  1828,  and  converted  when  about  twenty- 
one  in  Newark;  served  for  a  lime  as  a  local  preacher; 
in  1855  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference,  and 
during  the  next  twenty-five  years  filled  sixteen  different 
charges  in  the  territory  of  the  Newark  Conference.  He 
was  a  good,  earnest,  sensible^  preacher  and  a  diligent 
pastor,  being  especially  gifted  in  exhortation  and  prayer. 
He  was  very  fond  of  Camj)  'I'abor,  and  reached  it  after 
a  long  ride  by  carriage  on  August  14,  i  SSo,  to  make  it, 
as  the  sequel  ])roved,  his  mount  of  ascension  to  glory. 
When  near  the  close  of  his  lirief  sickness  lie  said  to  the 
Rev.  J.  M.  'I'uttle:  ".All  is  bright.  I  trust  in  the  atone- 
ment; I  have  joy  in  Christ." 

Rev.  Svlvestp:r  Hili.  Oi'dvke  was  well  worthy  of 
the  confidence  and  love  which  he  so  readily  won.  He 
was  born  at  Jwerettstown,  N.  ].,  June  22,  i828,and  con- 
verted in  1843.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Penning- 
ton Seminary,  and  entered  AWskyan  I'niNersity,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1853  ;  became  i)iofessor  of  Latin 
at  Charlotteville,  N.  Y.,  and  also  ]>r()fessor  of  ancient 
languages  at  Coo])erstown  ;  studied  theology  in  Union 
Theological  Seminar)-,  by  which  he  was  graduated,  and 
in  1858  entered  the  Newark  C'onference,  with  eleven 
others.  Then  followed  twenty-three  years  of  effective 
service,  including  his  presiding  eldership  of  four  years 
on  Newton  District.  Cnce  during  his  serious,  and  as 
was  supposed  fatal,  illness  at  Mariner's  I  larbor,  N.  Y.,  the 
Revs.  A.  I,.  I'>ri(  e,  R.  S.  ^Vrndt,  and  the  w  riter  stood  in 
solemn  silence  al)out  his  bed  when  he  broke  the  silence 
by  speaking  as  follows  in  a  distinct,  though  feeble,  voice: 
"  Brethren,  there  is  one  thing  I  want  to  say  to  you.  Don't 
be  afraid  to  die.  I  used  to  feel  afraid  of  death — not 
that  I  dreaded  its  conse([uen(  es,  but  there  was  such  a 
shrinking  back  of  nature  from  the  thought  of  dying. 
Now  even  all  tliat  is  taken  from  me,  and  I  look  upon 
15 


222 


Sunset  Memories. 


death  with  perfect  composure  and  pleasure.  Don't  be 
afraid  to  die."  He  partially  recovered,  and  the  next 
spring  became  the  pastor  at  Newton,  N.  J.,  where  after  a 
few  months  in  the^same  sweet  composure  he  yielded  up 
his  spirit  to  God. 

Rev.  David  Wesley  Bartine,  I).D.,  for  nearly  fifty 
years  "  held  his  place  among  the  strongest  and  most  elo- 
quent men  of  the  American  pulpit."  In  earlier  and 
middle  life  he  was  a  noble  specimen  of  manhood,  nearly 
six  feet  in  height,  stoutly  built,  and  vigorous,  with  beau- 
tiful black  hair,  eyes  large  and  brilliant,  and  a  voice  of 
wonderful  sweetness  and  power.  His  soul  was  in  keep- 
ing with  his  body.  He  entered  the  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference in  1832,  and  became  successively  by  transfer  a 
member  of  the  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences  ; 
served  one  term  as  presiding  elder,  and  was  three  times 
elected  to  Ceneral  Conference.  Among  my  very  pleasant 
recollections  is  that  of  my  association  witli  Dr.  Bartine  for 
a  week  as  his  roommate,  during  the  Conference  of  1874 
at  Paterson,  in  the  deliglilful  home  of  Mrs.  May,  Bishop 
Wiley  and  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven  being  also  guests  at  the 
same  home.  He  was  born  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  March  17, 
181 1,  was  converted  in  youth,  and  received  license  to 
preach  in  1831. 

Rev.  Fletcher  Dummis  belonged  to  the  class  of  1842. 
We  became  accpiainted  in  our  boyhood  when  his  vener- 
able father,  the  Rev.  William  Lummis,  resided  at  Port 
Republic  as  one  of  the  jueachers  on  Bargaintown  Cir- 
cuit. The  son  grew  up  to  manhood  willi  strong  convic- 
tions and  great  firinness  in  maintaining  them.  "He 
had  the  courage  of  Luther  to  face  and  defy  attack  in 
the  defense  of  his  convictions."  He  was  "an  able 
preacher,  often  impressing  his  hearers  with  his  burning 
words  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  especially  at  camp 
meeting."    Here  his  fertility  of  thought  and  expression 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  223 


in  conducting  revival  prayer  meetings  day  after  day  I 
have  not  seen  equaled.  His  death  was  very  sudden. 
In  less  than  an  hour  after  he  had  said  to  a  passing 
stranger,  on  one  of  the  streets  of  Newark,  "  I  am  sick," 
his  spirit  returned  to  God.  But  he  was  ready.  He  was 
born  in  Accomack  County,  Va.,  July  lo,  1819,  and  con- 
verted at  a  camp  meeting  near  Clayton,  N.  J.,  in  1835. 

Rev.  1\Iich.\ei,  Earl  Em.ison  was  born  at  Juliustown, 
N.  J.,  April  I,  1818,  and  was  anotlier  r(j)  al  classmate  of 
1842.  Converted  at  nineteen  while  walking  one  of  the 
streets  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  he  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  which  he  had  been  reared,  but  afterward 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  emcri.d 
Pennington,  N.  J.,  Seminary  in  1840;  and  two  years 
after  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference.  From 
that  time  until  1882  he  made  such  a  record  as  pastor, 
presiding  elder,  and  delegate  to  General  Conference  as 
greatly  magnified  the  grace  of  God  and  would  have  done 
honor  to  any  name.  His  deathbed  testimonies  were 
peculiarly  terse  and  expressive.  We  can  give  only  the 
last:  "  He  saves  to  the  uttermost;  it  is  an  uttermost  sal- 
vation, and  it  is  mine."  Well  did  Dr.  Porter  in  his 
memoir  of  him  say,  "  Brother  Ellison  was  an  interesting 
man."  The  impressive  funeral  services  in  Hedding 
Church,  Jersey  City,  were  to  have  been  presided  over  by 
the  writer,  but  he  was  not  aware  of  this  arrangement  and 
arrived  a  little  late,  through  the  slowness  of  a  Staten 
Island  ferryboat. 

Rev.  Jonath.an  Kelsev  Bl  kr,  D.D.,  was  justly  re- 
garded by  many  as  a  model  man  and  minister.  No  name 
in  our  extended  death  roll  represents  more  sterling  (juali- 
ties.  Born  in  a  godly  Methodist  home  at  Middletown, 
Conn.,  September  21,  1825,  he  joined  the  Church  at 
thirteen,  and  at  twenty  was  graduated  from  Wesleyan 
University  in  the  city  of  his  birth;  then  became  a  stu- 


224 


Sunset  Memories. 


dent  at  Union  Tlieological  Seminary  in  New  York,  and, 
having  for  a  time  served  as  a  sup])!)',  entered  the  New 
Jersey  Conference  in  1848.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
("icncral  Conference  of  1872,  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Bil)li(  al  Literature  and  Exegesis,  also  of  the  American 
Committee  on  the  Revised  New  Testament,  and  served 
about  two  years  (1867-8)  as  professor  of  Hebrew  in 
Drew  Theological  Seminary.  Bishop  Simpson's  Cyclo- 
picdia  of  Alctliodisiu  says  that  "  he  then  returned  to 
pastoral  work,"  whereas  during  this  time  he  continued 
the  efficient  pastor  of  Central  Church,  Newark. 

"  His  preaching  was  strong,  deep,  spiritual,  and  practi- 
cal. .  .  .  Excellent  as  a  preacher,  he  was  still  more  ex- 
cellent as  a  ])astor."  "  He  was  jjarticularly  effective  in 
revival  work."  Sweet  is  the  writer's  remembrance  of 
the  hours  spent  in  his  genial,  linppy  home.  "I  am 
holding  on  to  my  trust  in  Jesus,"  was  his  last  reli- 
gious utterance.  His  wife,  a  "noble  Christian  woman," 
followed  him  in  less  than  four  months. 

Rkv.  Jamf.s  H.  Dandv  was  l)<)rn  in  Ireland  Septem- 
ber 8,  1798,  and  converted  when  about  nineteen;  came 
to  this  country  three  years  afterward,  and  in  1826  was 
admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  his  fields  of 
labor  for  the  next  thirty-one  years  being  confined  almost 
wholly  to  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  thoughtful  and  able 
preacher,  with  social  (jualities  rendering  him  a  very 
agreeable  friend.  From  1857  until  his  death  in  1882  his 
name  stood  on  the  retired  list ;  but  he  retained  his  sweet, 
cheerful  spirit  to  the  last,  and  died  in  great  peace. 

Rkv.  Rodnev  Winaxs  was  converted  in  Newark,  N. 
J.,  when  a  little  ])ast  nineteen;  early  became  a  class 
leader;  entered  Dickinson  College  in  1835;  was  admitted 
to  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1838,  served  as  pastor 
of  seventeen  charges,  and  in  1861  became  a  supernume- 
rary, settling  on  a  i'arm  near  Wcstfield,  N.  J.,  where  he 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  225 


lived  the  next  twenty-one  ye;irs.  "  His  sermons  were 
always  thoroughly  studied  and  evangelical,"  while  his 
life  was  marked  by  great  conscientiousness,  circum- 
spection, and  consistency.  Two  of  his  sons  became 
graduates  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary  and  entered 
the  New  York  Conference.  His  death  was  very  sudden. 
He  was  born  on  Governor's  Island,  Mass.,  January  6, 
1813. 

Rev.  Jacob  P.  Daii.ev  was  born  in  Pittsgrove,  N.  J., 
August  23,  1820,  was  converted  at  seventeen,  and  soon 
after  became  imi^rcssed  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach. 
In  1845  he  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  and 
served  in  the  pastorate  without  interruption  for  thirty- 
eight  years,  occupying  twenty-two  charges,  three  of  them 
a  second  time  each.  "  His  retiring  manner,  gentlemanly 
bearing,  and  pure  life  won  for  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  As  a  preacher  he  was  in- 
structive and  practical,  always  presenting  his  subject  in 
a  clear  and  impressive  manner."  His  last  words  spoken 
to  his  wife  and  children  were,  "Trust  and  love  God; 
good-bye."  At  the  funeral  services  held  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Staten  Island,  the  writer  was  expected  to  speak, 
with  others,  but  was  hindered  by  a  troublesome  hoarse- 
ness. 

Rkv.  Stephen  K.  Russei.l  became  a  probationer  in 
the  Newark  Conference  in  1865  and  served  ten  years  as 
a  pastor,  less  one  as  a  supernumerary.  In  1879  he  re- 
moved to  California  for  his  health  and  there  preached 
as  he  had  strength  and  opportunity,  still  retaining  his 
connection  with  the  Newark  Conference;  and  there  he 
came  to  a  joyful  death  in  1884.  "  In  the  pulpit  he  was 
evangelical,  earnest,  and  impressive;"  in  social  life, 
"  warm  in  his  attachments,  kind  in  his  disposition,  in- 
telligent in  his  intercourse,  and  refined  in  his  manners." 
Shortly  before  his  death  he  was  visited  by  the  Rev. 


226 


Sunset  Memories. 


Joseph  P.  Macaulay,  then  recently  transferred  from  the 
Newark  Conference  to  the  California,  to  whom  he  re- 
plied, "Yes,  I  am  just  in  sight  of  the  beautiful  cily;  " 
and  to  his  dear  wife  he  said,  "  Death  is  nothing;  I  am 
only  peacefully  and  ([uietly  sailing  along  in  a  smooth  sea 
into  the  harbor." 

Rev.  Sylvanus  W.  Decker  was  born  in  Orange 
Comity,  N.  Y.,  October  iS,  1S07,  and  converted  in  1832. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1S39, 
having  jjreviously  served  as  a  supply  under  the  Rev. 
Manning  l''orc  e,  iiresiding  elder.  During  the  ne.xt  thir- 
teen years  lie  filled  eight  different  charges;  in  185  i  be- 
came State  pri>on  chaj)lain  at  Trenton;  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  and  became  dee])ly  involved  in  debt, 
under  the  [jrcssure  of  which  he  ^\•it]ulrew  from  the  min- 
istry; removed  to  Jersey  City  and  began  business  again, 
in  \\hicli  lie  was  prospered;  paid  his  indebtedness, 
principal  and  interest;  was  restored  to  (Conference  rela- 
tions as  a  supernumerary  with  work,  aud  removed  to 
Paterson,  "where  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  man  of  God, 
pure  in  life,  a  generous  giver,  and  an  efficient  worker  in 
the  Church."    His  last  hours  were  triumpliant. 

Rev.  Edw  ari)  Morrell  CiRIkeii  h  was  born  near 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  March  5,  1S22,  and  had  a  notable  pedi- 
gree as  a  Metliodist,  his  great  grandfather,  Robert  Dun- 
can, having  been  converted  under  the  preaching  of  John 
Wesley  and  afterward  becoming  a  member  of  old  John 
Street  Church,  New  York.  He  himself  was  converted 
in  his  eleventh  year,  and  entered  the  New  Jersey  Con- 
ference in  1844,  following  whicli  Iiis  actix'e  ministry  ex- 
tended over  sixteen  years  in  ele\'en  different  charges, 
when  he  became  supernumerary.  Resuming  in  1S67  he 
fdled  five  additional  charges,  continuing  till  1877,  when 
his  actixe  work  ceased  altoLetlier.  His  thrilling  letter 
addressed  to  the  Conference  of  1SS3  told  uf  an  unspeak- 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  227 


able  joy  in  the  midst  of  a  wasting  disease.  l!y  vote  it 
was  j)ul)lisiied  in  the  Conference  Minutes.  "Brother 
(irifhth  was  a  student.  His  sermons  were  carefully  pre- 
jjared  and,  in  the  days  of  his  strength,  were  delivered 
with  energy  and  effect."  Among  his  treasures,  "  handed 
down  to  him  by  sainted  men,"  were  "letters  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  Thomas  Morrell,  and  other  fathers  of  the  Ameri- 
can Church." 

Rev.  Edwin  A.  Day  belonged  to  the  distinguished 
Day  family  of  New  Providence,  N.  J.,  and  was  born 
January  8,  1828.  Converted  at  fourteen  under  the 
ministry  of  his  eldest  brother,  tlie  Rev.  Mulford  Day, 
he  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  at  twenty-three, 
in  1851;  but  after  laboring  three  years  in  the  ])astural 
work  he  located,  from  jiartial  failure  of  health.  In  1855 
he  was  readmitted  and  resumed  his  chosen  work,  but 
after  continuing  it  for  nine  years  he  was  obliged  to  take 
a  supernumerary  relation,  never  to  become  effective 
again.  He  was  a  superior  ])reacher,  and  with  good 
health  was  well  fitted  to  hold  a  conspicuous  i)lace  in 
the  ministry.  His  letter  to  the  Conference  of  1880  was 
deeply  expressive  and  impressive,  as  a  few  sentences 
will  show:  "I  write  this  letter  in  great  feeblenes.s,  look- 
ing death  in  the  face.  ...  O,  what  precious  concep- 
tions of  Christ,  of  his  jjower  to  save,  even  to  the  utter- 
most, I  am  permitted  to  enjoy  !  .  .  .  His  blood  is  upon 
my  soul,  washing,  cleansing,  and  purifying  it."  After 
this  he  partially  recovered,  and  lived  a  few  years  longer 
in  possession  of  this  deej)  and  ric  h  experience.  Visit- 
ing him  some  weeks  before  his  departure,  the  writer 
found  him  blessedly  ready. 

Rev.  IS.A.AC  Cross  was  born  at  White  Plains,  N.  Y., 
November  22,  181 1,  and  became  a  plain,  jiractical, 
earnest,  and  useful  minister.  Converted  in  Newark,  N. 
J.,  when  about  twenty,  and  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia 


228 


Sunset  Memories. 


Conference  in  1835,  his  active  ministry  was  confined 
within  the  bounds  of  what  is  now  the  Newark  Con- 
ference. For  twenty-seven  years,  ending  with  1862,  he 
"  stood  witli  his  brethren  in  the  thickest  of  the  battle, 
having  proved  himself  a  faithful  soldier  and  true  com- 
rade." Removing  to  AVashington,  I).  C,  in  1862,  he 
served  under  the  American  Missionary  Society  as 
missionary  to  the  colored  people,  and  also  as  chaplain 
to  the  Freedmen's  Hospital,  extending  his  labors  to  the 
Washington  City  Almshouse  and  the  United  States 
Insane  Asylum.  A  true  disciple  was  he  of  Him  "  who 
went  about  doing  good."  Many  a  more  brilliant  man 
will  receive  a  far  less  brilliant  crown.  With  a  Christian 
experience  fully  ripe,  his  end  was  full  of  peace. 

Rkv.  Ge()rc:e  WiNSOR  was  born  in  England  Novem- 
ber 18,  1813,  but  in  his  second  year  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  at  Bound  Brook,  N.  J. 
With  pleasure  I  recall  my  visits  to  their  goodly  home 
fifty  years  ago.  George  was  converted  at  twenty-four 
under  the  labors  of  another  who  bore  the  same  Christian 
name,  and  who  was  also  of  English  birth,  the  Rev. 
George  Hitchens.  Soon  called  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  he  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in 
1839,  and  rendered  unbroken  service  in  twenty  charges 
during  tlie  next  forty-six  years.  "  He  was  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  doctrines,  discipline,  and  economy  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  kept  them  for  con- 
science' sake.  .  .  .  Every  appointment  was  received  as 
from  the  hand  of  Providence,  and  many  in  the  great  day 
will  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed.  ...  As  the  result  of 
a  long  and  faithful  pastorate  nineteen  hundred  souls 
were  converted  under  his  ministry."  His  punctuality 
was  proverbial.  With  a  true  courtly  bearing,  he  was 
exceedingly  companionable.  Some  of  his  quaint  say- 
ings will  be  readily  recalled,  such  as,  "Thomas,  Richard, 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  229 


and  Henry,"  and,  "  As  our  excellent  Discipline  says, 
'AH  this  I  steadfasdy  believe,'"  etc.  During  the  last 
two  years  of  his  life  he  was  called  to  endure  great 
physical  suffering,  but  he  could  cheerfully  say,  "  It's  all 
right,  it's  all  right !   There  the  weary  be  at  rest." 

Rev.  Tho.m.as  Thornton  Campfield  was  born  at 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  May  23,  181 1,  but  early  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Freehold,  N.  J.  After  traveling  several  years  as 
a  supply  he  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference 
in  1844,  being  one  of  a  class  of  eighteen.  In  1881  his 
effective  work  of  thirty- seven  years  in  the  Conference 
closed,  and  his  name  passed  to  the  retired  list.  He 
was  ardent  in  piety,  heroic  in  spirit,  social  in  disposi- 
tion, courteous  in  manner,  and  methodical  in  habit, 
with  "a  peculiar  aptness  for  dates  and  figures.  From 
these  we  learn  that  he  traveled  in  his  own  conveyance 
as  a  minister,  from  March  2,  1839,  to  March  2,  1884, — 
forty-five  years — about  one  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand miles;  servedlwenty-two  charges;  preached  about 
seven  tliousand  times  ;  made  about  twelve  thousand 
pastoral  calls  ;  received  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Cluirch,  on  probation  and  into  full  membership,  about 
two  thousand  and  fifty-seven  persons ;  baptized  about 
one  thousand;  attended  about  seven  hundred  funerals  ; 
and  married  about  six  hundred  couples."  His  class- 
mate, the  Rev.  Jacob  P.  Fort,  spending  a  night  at  his 
liouse  a  few  days  before  his  departure,  found  him  very 
haj^py  and  ready  for  his  change. 

Rev.  D.wii)  Graves,  born  in  Corinth,  \'t.,  August  9, 
181 7,  belonged  to  the  class  of  1842,  was  converted  at 
fifteen  in  his  father's  barn,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
at  Medford,  N.  J.,  as  stated  elsewhere.  Having  filled 
eighteen  charges  he  took  the  supernumerary  relation  in 
1870,  and  engaged  successfully  in  business  in  tlie  city 
of  Newark.    The  terse  summary  of  his  character  by 


230 


Sunset  Memories. 


Dr.  Spellmeyer  contained  the  following:  "  David  Graves 
was  a  man  of  marked  individuality.  He  had  a  sharp 
and  rugged  mind,  clear  conceptions  of  right,  an  inflexi- 
ble will,  great  ferv-ency  of  spirit,  untiring  energy,  and  a 
tender  heart.  .  .  .  His  preaching  was  of  the  straightfor- 
ward, hortatory,  practical,  spiritual  type.  .  .  .  He  was 
an  aggressive,  hard-working  minister,  restless  until  he 
could  bring  something  to  pass.  .  .  .  Into  the  fight 
against  the  liquor  traffic  he  threw  all  the  forces  of  his 
being,  and  by  public  address,  by  private  entreaty,  by 
personal  gifts,  he  was  known  everywhere  as  a  stalwart 
champion  for  total  prohibition.  .  .  .  When  the  fatal  ill- 
ness came  it  found  an  easy  victim.  .  .  .  When  he  had 
to  stop  he  had  to  die.  But  no  man  was  less  afraid  to 
die.  .  .  .  '  Gather  my  family  about  my  bed,'  said  he, 
'and  let  my  children  hear  me.  I  owe  everything,  every- 
thing to  the  Methodist  Church.  You  know  my  mind  on 
other  subjects.  I  want  you  to  know  my  mind  on  this. 
The  Methodist  Church  has  been  everything  to  me.'  .  .  . 
In  his  last  hours  on  earth  there  was  only  triumph." 

Rev.  Bkomwell  Andrew  had  a  notable  history.  He 
was  born  in  Talbot  County,  Md.,  June  12,  1798,  and 
when  twenty  years  old  was  converted  at  a  camp  meet- 
ing. Then  followed  a  license  to  exhort  issued  by  the 
Rev.  Henry  Boehm  and  wonderful  success  in  saving 
souls.  He  was  licensed  to  )ireach  under  Rev.  Lawrence 
Lawrenson,  presiding  elder,  in  1822  ;  in  1826  supplied 
a  vacancy  on  Smyrna  Circuit,  Del.  ;  and  at  the  next  Con- 
ference stayed  with  the  mother  of  Bishop  Scott,  her 
two  sons,  Levi  and  William,  being  then  with  her.  In 
1829  he  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference, 
from  which  time  till  1853  he  fdled  seventeen  laborious 
charges,  and  then  became  a  supernumerary,  removing 
soon  after  to  Navesink,  N.  J.,  where  he  died.  He  "was 
an  '  old-fashioned  '  Methodist  preacher.    For  a  quarter 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  231 

of  a  century  he  was  one  of  the  most  zealous,  laborious, 
and  successful  of  the  earlier  itinerants.  .  .  .  Under  his 
ministry  probably  not  less  than  four  thousand  souls  were 
converted.  .  .  .  He  estimated  that  he  had  taken  into 
the  Church  one  person  for  every  dollar  he  had  received 
as  salary."  His  end  was  blessed.  One  of  his  sons,  the 
Rev.  Joseph  F.  Andrew,  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Newark  Conference. 

Rev.  John  Faull  was  born  in  Cornwall,  England, 
December  6,  1820,  was  converted  in  early  life,  and  li- 
censed to  preach  in  1843.  In  1849  he  came  to  New 
York,  and  soon  after  was  employed  to  fill  a  vacancy  at 
Franklin,  N.  J.  Next  spring  he  entered  the  New  Jersey 
Conference,  served  eight  charges  in  succession  as  pas- 
tor, and  then  became  chaplain  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
New  Jersey  Infantry.  After  nine  months  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out,  when  he  was  immediately  chosen  for 
cliaplain  of  the  Thirty-third  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
and  served  as  such  till  tlie  close  of  the  war.  "  He  was 
a  personal  friend  of  Generals  Grant,  Sherman,  Howard, 
Hooker,  and  other  distinguished  officers."  After  the 
war  he  occupied  ten  charges,  closing  his  work  and  life 
together  during  his  second  year  at  Sergeantsville,  N.  J. 
As  a  jireac  lior  he  was  ready,  intelligent,  instructive,  im- 
pressive; in  social  life  agreeable  and  entertaining;  a 
good  pastor  and  sincere  friend.  A  few  years  before  his 
death  his  only  son,  Willie,  comely  and  skilled  in  his 
business,  a  young  husband  and  father,  had  been  buried 
at  Asbury  Church,  Staten  Island,  the  writer  officiating; 
and  thither  the  father's  remains  were  borne  to  "  rest  in 
hope  "  of  a  glorious  resurrection. 

Rev.  James  Oliver  Rogers,  a  name  which  always 
awakened  peculiar  interest  in  the  writer's  mind  when,  in 
his  boyhood,  he  used  to  read  the  annual  ap]:)ointments, 
as  also  did  tlie  name  of  the  Rev.  Crook  S.  Vancleve — • 


232 


Sunset  Memories. 


the  one  by  its  middle  "  ().,"  the  other  by  its  initial 
"  Crook,"  which  was  usually  printed  in  full.  But  in 
after  years  when  he  became  a  fellow-laborer  with  them 
in  the  ministry  he^found  that  these  names  of  special  in- 
terest to  boyish  eyes  and  ears  represented  personalities 
of  special  excellence.  The  parentage  of  Brother  Rog- 
ers has  been  given  on  a  preceding  })age.  By  request  of 
tiie  family  I  prepared  his  Conference  memoir,  which 
supplies  the  following  facts:  From  his  admission  to  the 
Philadelphia  Conference  in  1836  till  1859  he  filled  four- 
teen charges,  all  in  New  Jersey;  was  transferred  to  the 
New  York  East  Conference  in  i860,  and  two  years  later 
transferred  back  to  the  Newark,  and  filled  eight 
charges,  closing  his  active  work  with  1886,  two  years, 
1872  and  1873,  having  been  passed  as  a  supernumerary. 
His  ministry  was  as  remarkable  for  its  success  as  for  its 
length.  One  revival,  at  Elizabeth,  gave  five  young  men 
to  the  ministry.  His  career  was  marked  by  continuous 
revivals.  The  committee  appointed  by  the  Conference 
to  visit  him  at  his  home  in  Hackensack,  I)rs.  Porter, 
Dunn,  Larew,  and  the  writer,  found  him  peacefully 
awaiting  his  change,  which  came  two  weeks  afterward. 
He  was  born  at  Freehold,  N.  J.,  July  10,  1813,  and  ex- 
perienced conversion  when  about  sixteen. 

Rkv.  James  N.  Kf.vs  was  boin  in  I'-ushkill,  Ireland, 
February  12,  1819,  and  converted  when  a  chihl;  studied 
at  Didsbury  Institute;  was  admitted  to  the  Irish  Con- 
ference in  1846,  came  to  this  country  and  joined  Balti- 
more Conference  in  1853;  returned  to  Ireland,  but  aftCi 
his  father's  death  came  back;  entered  Newark  Confer- 
ence in  1859,  filled  eight  charges,  one  of  them  (Decker- 
town)  twice;  and  in  the  spring  of  1881  took  a  supernu- 
merary relation.  He  was  a  cultured  preacher,  faultless 
in  grammar  and  ])ronunciation,  his  sermons  being  "bib- 
lical, argumentative,  clear,  bold,  and  original."  After 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  233 


his  pastoral  work  ctased  "  lie  was  often  called  upon  to 
supply  the  vacant  pul[)iis  of  \arious  denominations  in 
the  community.  ...  It  is  the  testimony  of  his  beloved 
wife  that  '  he  walked  with  God.'  "  His  death  from 
paralysis  was  \  ery  sudden. 

Rev.  William  G.  Wicuixs  was  born  in  Mount  Hope, 
N.  v.,  Februarv  24,  1821,  converted  at  sixteen,  and  ad- 
mitted to  the  Newark  Conference  in  1S44,  having  served 
the  ])revious  \  ear  as  a.sup|)l\'.  He  filled  thirteen  charges, 
and  in  1866  became  a  supernumerary;  engaged  in  Ijusi- 
ness,  first  at  Newburg,  N.  "W,  and  afterward  at  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  remo\ing  there  in  1874.  "Ilis  business  grew  to 
large  proportions,"  and  he  "soon  became  one  of  the 
prominent  merchants  of  that  enter[5rising  city."  lint  he 
continued  to  work  diligently  for  souls  in  freipient  ser- 
mons and  other  labors,  his  generosity  being  broad  and 
constant.  He  was  a  ])lain,  honest,  earnest,  childlike. 
Christlike  man  and  minister.  In  his  last  sickness  he 
said  to  his  presiding  elder,  "  IJrother  IJarnes,  I  am  so 
glad  that  Father  and  I  arranged  matters  long  ago,  and 
that  no  settlement  is  necessary  now." 

Rev.  James  M.  Tu  i  'i  le  was  born  in  Caldwell,  N.  J., 
June  12,  1809;  con\'erted  at  twent\'-four;  a  year  later 
was  licensed  to  preach,  and  soon  after  became  a  supply 
under  Presiding  bolder  Force.  In  1836  he  entered  the 
Philade![)hia  Conference.  All  his  futui'c  appointments 
were  confined  to  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  he 
became  a  great  [wwer  for  good.  I  lis  effective  relation 
continued  till  1 878,  twenty-fi\  e  \-ears  ]ia\  ing  been  spent 
as  pastor  in  fifteen  charges,  se\  on  as  presiding  elder  on 
two  districts,  five  as  tract  agent,  three  as  agent  for  Pen- 
nington and  Hackettstown  seminaries,  and  two  as  sec- 
retary of  United  States  Sanitary  Commission.  In  i860 
he  was  elected  to  the  General  Conference,  and  for  twenty- 
seven  years  he  served  as  a  manager  of  the  parent  Mis- 


234 


Sunset  Memories. 


sionary  Society.  He  was  wise  in  council  and  of  large 
executive  abilities.  "  His  preacliing  was  of  ten  in  power; 
but  his  exhortations  were  remarkable.  .  .  .  His  friends 
were  numerous  an^  he  never  lost  a  friend  — a  man  of 
imperturbable  coolness,  seldom  greatly  excited,  and 
never  angry.  Above  all,  "  he  was  a  spiritual,  conse- 
crated man  ;  "  "  true,  open,  frank,  noble,  ingenuous." 
To  all  who  knew  him  and  to  those  who  knew  him  not, 
it  is  enough  to  say  that  the  father's  excellences  are  per- 
petuated in  tlie  son,  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  H.  Tuttle. 

Rev.  James  Henry  Runvon  left  an  excellent  record 
of  fidelity  and  success.  "His  ministry  was  one  of  ex- 
tensive usefulness.  Revival  work  was  his  delight.  .  .  . 
He  was  a  bold  champion  of  the  truth.  When  it  cost 
something  to  be  something,  he  was  willing  to  pay  the 
price.  .  .  .  He  was  fearless  in  his  attacks  upon  sin,  and 
faltered  not  to  attack  it  in  high  or  low  places.  He  was  a 
good  preacher,  clear  and  practical,  a  faithful  expounder 
of  the  word  of  life."  His  conversion  at  nineteen  was 
followed  in  due  time  by  license  to  exhort,  by  his  em- 
ployment as  a  supply,  and  license  to  preach.  In  1856 
he  joined  the  New  Jersey  Conference  and  served  sixteen 
different  charges,  until  1887,  when  he  fell  at  the  post  of 
duty  after  a  brief  illness.  He  was  born  at  Liberty 
Corner,  N.  J.,  August  28,  1833. 

Rev.  William  Tunison — a  name  fragrant  with  pleas- 
ant memories.  Converted  at  sixteen,  in  Green  Street 
Church,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  he  became  impressed  that  he 
ought  to  devote  his  life  to  the  ministry.  He  entered 
Pennington  Seminary  to  prepare  for  college,  and  thence 
went  to  Weslcyan  University,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1846.  Next  spring  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Con- 
ference, he  spent  forty-one  active,  earnest,  and  useful 
years  in  serving  the  Church,  as  pastor  in  seventeen 
charges,  and  a  full  term  as  presiding  elder  on  the  Jersey 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  235 


City  nislrict.  He  was  eiiipliatically  a  man  of  one  work. 
The  great  thought, 

'"Tis  all  my  business  here  below, 
To  cry,  l>elu)l(l  the  l.amb!" 

gave  shape  to  liis  whole  being  and  life.  Hence  his  well- 
prejjared  and  well-delivered  sermons  were  etninently 
evangelical  and  effective.  "  He  filled  some  of  the  most 
))rominent  appointments,  in  all  of  whitii  he  was  popular 
and  useful.  .  .  .  His  labors  were  crowned  with  many 
blessed  revivals."  I  visited  him  during  his  last  sick- 
ness and  found  him  with  unclouded  mind  and  cheerful 
spirit,  sweetly  trusting  in  God.  At  another  time  lie  said, 
"There  is  not  a  shadow  around  me;  all  is  sunshine." 
He  was  born  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  August  30,  1S25. 

Rev.  Cornelius  CbAUK,  Sr  ,  born  at  Whealsheaf,  N. 
J.,  March  4,  181 1,  was  able  to  c  laim  for  an  ancestor 
Abram  Clark,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  Though  carefully  trained  in  Dr.  Mur- 
ray's Presbyterian  cluirch,  Elizabctii,  N.  he  sought 
and  found  conversion  at  a  Methodist  altar  in  his  seven- 
teenth year,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Removing  to  Newark  soon  after,  he  became 
a  zealous  and  useful  worker.  He  had  "a  vigorous 
mind.  He  was  a  great  reader,  a  close  thinker,  and  an 
acute  reasoner.  Possessed  of  strong  logical  powers,  and 
endowed  with  a  natural,  rugged  ehxpicm  e  which,  when 
inspired  by  the  great  themes  of  religion  and  temperance, 
glowed  with  a  fervor  and  beauty  that  mastered  his 
audience,  we  find  him  early  recognized  as  a  iiopular 
speaker  on  the  temperance  platform  and  a  successful 
worker  in  revivals."  Continuing  a  local  preacher  till 
1852,  being  then  forty-one  years  of  age,  he  entered  the 
New  Jersey  Conference  and  served  as  pastor  of  eleven 
charges,  intermitting  one  year,  t868,  and  finally  ceasing 
from  the  pastoral  work  in  1S71.    Preceding  his  death 


236 


Sunset  Memories. 


he  suffered  for  over  a  year  from  paralysis,  and  then 
quietly  passed  away. 

Rev.  Peter  Davidson  Day  was  born  August  6,  1811, 
and  grew  up  at  ,New  Providence,  N.  J.  Converted  in 
his  eighteenth  year,  he  became  two  years  later  a  sup- 
ply on  Newton  Circuit,  and  in  1832  was  admitted  to 
the  Philadelpliia  Conference,  becoming  successively  a 
member  of  the  New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences. 
His  active  pastoral  service  covered  thirty-three  years, 
in  twenty  charges.  As  a  minister  of  Christ  he  "was 
true  to  the  sacred  trust  committed  to  his  care.  He 
deeply  loved  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  our  beloved 
Church.  His  spirit  was  fervent,  labors  abundant,  his 
words  well  chosen.  .  .  .  And  God  gave  him  many  seals 
to  his  ministry.  .  .  .  His  last  words  were,  'I  am  going 
home.' " 

Rev.  John  Scarlett,  born  in  Morris  County,  N.  J., 
April  30,  1803,  was  not  only  a  very  remarkable  man,  but 
in  many  respects  quite  uniepie.  A  large  volume  might 
be  written  concerning  him,  but  this  is  rendered  needless 
by  the  three  small  and  interesting  volumes  that  came 
from  liis  own  ready  pen  while  he  yet  lived:  Converted 
J II fi del,  Almond,  in  verse,  and  Itinerant  on  Foot — all  of 
them  largely  biographical  of  himself.  The  "Introduc- 
tion "  to  the  second  of  these  was  written  by  me  at  his 
special  request ;  and  not  long  before  his  death  he  placed 
in  my  hands  for  publication  a  manuscript  with  the  title. 
True  Methodism  in  its  Spirit,  Jl'or/cs,  and  Jlurys,  written 
from  the  standpoint  of  his  keen  observation  and  long 
experience.  Besides  being  warmly  attached  to  his 
three  Conference  classmates,  the  Revs.  Lewis  R.  Dunn, 
Williani  P.  Corbit,  and  A$aph  C.  Vandewater,  with  many 
more,  there  was  one  other  whom  he  specially  loved 
and  delighted  to  commune  witli,  the  Rev.  George 
Hughes,  Editor  of  the  Guide  to  Holiness.    It  was  very 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  237 


fitting  tliat  lie  sliould  si)cak  at  the  funeral — a  service 
to  which,  by  tongue  and  pen,  lirother  Scarlett  had  also 
invited  the  writer;  but  his  reijuest  was  probably  not 
known  by  those  having  charge  of  the  arrangements. 
Powerfully  converted  in  Newark  when  about  thirty, 
John  Scarlett  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in 
1841,  and  filled  sixteen  charges  during  the  next  thirty- 
two  years;  then  he  became  a  working  supernumerary 
until,  on  the  last  day  of  his  life,  he  could  say,  "  1  am 
nearing  the  portals — I  shall  be  there  to-night."  To  say 
the  least,  he  was  one  of  the  sprightliest  in  mind  and 
body,  one  of  the  aptest,  deejiest,  purest,  holiest,  hap- 
piest, and  most  interesting  men  we  have  ever  known. 

Rkv.  JosKi'U  Roi'.KRT  A  HAMS  was  born  at  Swedes- 
borough,  N.  J.,  February  12,  1824,  and  converted 
at  nineteen  in  Philadelphia.  He  entered  the  New 
Jersey  Conference  in  1850.  Then  followed  a  ministry 
of  twenty-nine  years,  in  thirteen  charges.  In  1879  he 
became  a  supernumerary,  settled  at  INIetuchen,  and  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business.  P.ishop  Wilson,  of  the 
Reformed  Episcopal  Church,  in  his  comprehensive 
memoir  of  him  said,  "  His  sermons  were  the  result  of 
patient  thought,  were  thoroughly  scriptural  and  practi- 
cal, remote  from  anything  apjjroaching  irreverent  specu- 
lation, and  the  topics  were  always  edifying.  .  .  .  Many 
souls  were  led  by  him  to  Jesus."  In  his  last  illness  he 
was  often  visited  by  the  bishop,  to  whom  he  said  three 
days  before  his  death,  "This  will  try  the  realities,  the 
foundations — the  wide  foundations."  lUit  "not  willi 
fear  was  this  sjioken  ;  it  was  the  calm  outlook  of  a  wait- 
ing soul." 

Rev.   Crook  Stevenson  Vanct.kve  was  born  at 
Woodsville,  N.  J.,  December  30,  1814  ;   converted  in 
his  eighteenth  year  at  Pennington,  N.  J.,  near  his  birth- 
place; was  early  licensed  to  exhort  and  then  to  preach; 
lU 


238 


Sunset  Memories. 


entered  tlie  grammar  school  of  Dickinson  College, 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  but  after  one  term  was  urged  by  the  Rev. 
Manning  Force,  presiding  elder,  to  supply  a  vacancy  on 
Newton,  N.  J.,  Circuit;  in  1836  was  admitted  to  the 
Philadelphia  Conference  and  for  fifty  consecutive  years 
pursued  his  work  in  the  effective  ranks,  filling  twenty- 
six  pastoral  charges  and  presiding  over  two  districts, 
Morristown  (twice)  and  Newton.  His  was  a  noble 
record  of  labor  and  success.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Conference  in  1868  and  of  the  Book  Commit- 
tee during  the  next  four  years,  as  well  as  a  reserve  dele- 
gate to  the  General  Conference  of  i860  and  1864.  His 
preaching  was  of  an  excellent  order,  always  thoughtful 
and  earnest,  and  not  unfrequently  masterful  and  mighty. 
His  sermons  were  well  prepared  at  his  study  table  and 
on  his  knees,  then  delivered  with  seriousness,  direct- 
ness, and  unction.  He  was  a  diligent,  happy,  success- 
ful pastor.  In  my  deepest  sorrow,  as  told  elsewhere, 
my  heart  turned  toward  him,  as  one  of  our  best  friends, 
for  help;  and  when,  six  and  a  half  years  later,  the 
choice  of  his  bereft  family  turned  toward  me  as  his  de- 
sired biographer  I  felt  that  such  service  would  be  a 
true  "  labor  of  love." 

Rev.  William  Wesley  Voorhees  was  converted  in 
his  eighteenth  year  at  Freehold,  N.  J.;  became  an  inti- 
mate associate  with  John  Hanlon  and  Cornelius  Clark, 
Jr.,  in  church  and  Sunday  school  work;  entered  the 
New  Jersey  Conference  in  1856;  and  filled  nineteen, 
charges  in  the  next  thirty-four  years.  His  death  oc- 
curred very  suddenly  at  Liberty  Falls,  N.  Y.,  whither  he 
had  gone  with  his  wife  for  a  restoration  of  broken 
health.  When  about  to  return  home,  having  to  ride 
two  miles  to  the  railway  station,  he  reached  for  the 
driving  reins,  "when,  lo,  God's  chariot  swept  down,  and 
without  a  sigh  or  a  farewell  he  stepped  in  and  was  trans- 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  239 


lated  to  the  company  of  tlie  blood-washed."  Hai)iuly, 
though  the  distance  was  great,  his  special  friend  of  early 
and  later  years,  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Clark,  could  re- 
spond to  a  telegraphic  summons  to  officiate  at  his 
funeral.  In  his  excellent  obituary  of  him  he  might  well 
say,  "  Brother  Voorhees  made  faithful  use  of  his  time 
and  talents,  and  was  a  valuable  and  successful  minister 
of  the  word."  He  was  born  in  Upper  Freehold,  N.  J., 
January  21,  1834. 

Rev.  John  S.  Portkr,  D.I).,  was  born  in  Snow  Hill, 
Md.,  August  23,  1805,  and  soon  after  an  early  conver- 
sion felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  preach.  Having  been 
licensed  and  recommended  to  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence, he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1829,  and  after  four 
years  in  country  circuit  work  he  was  appointed  to  old 
St.  George's  in  Philadelphia,  with  Henry  White,  Robert 
Cierry,  and  Thomas  McCarroll.  Then  followed  twenty- 
one  years  in  stations,  nearly  all  of  them  in  cities,  and 
eighteen  years  in  the  presiding  eldership,  tiie  whole  of 
his  effective  service  covering  forty-four  years.  He  was 
eight  years  connected  with  the  Philadeljihia  Conference, 
twenty  with  the  New  Jersey  Conference,  and  over  thirty- 
three  with  the  Newark,  in  the  two  latter  of  which  he 
was  reverently  looked  upon  as  a  Nestor  or  a  Solon  in 
wisdom  and  counsel.  He  was  a  born  leader,  was  six 
times  a  member  of  the  General  Conference  and  once  a 
reserve  delegate.  Deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of 
education,  he  served  as  a  trustee  of  Dickinson  College, 
Drew  Theological  Seminary,  and  Centenary  Collegiate 
Institute,  giving  to  each  his  time,  labor,  and  means. 
Dr.  Porter  was  a  man  of  mark  physically,  intellectually, 
spiritually,  socially,  officially.  He  died  as  he  lived,  and 
saying  this  is  saying  much.  His  funeral  was  large  and 
impressive. 

Rev.  AmosHolcomb  Belles  was  born  in  Hunterdon 


240 


Sunset  Memories. 


County,  N.  J.,  March  31,  1816  ;  converted  when  a  boy  ; 
entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1849;  and 
served  seventeen  cliarges  in  the  effective  relation  during 
the  next  forty  \  sars.  "  After  his  retirement  from  the 
more  active  ministry  he  preaclied  in  the  churches  in 
and  about  Newark  as  occasion  required."  He  was  "a 
man  of  large  physical  proportions  and  of  a  very  vigorous 
manhood.  His  voice  was  remarkably  powerful  and 
resonant.  .  .  .  He  was  very  modest  ;  .  .  .  remarkably 
kind  and  even-tempered  ;  brave  and  uncomplaining  in 
enduring  the  hardships  of  the  itinerancy  in  those  early 
days.  His  mind  was  like  his  body,  rugged  and  strong." 
He  was  "an  earnest,  orthodox.  Gospel  preacher  of  the 
Wesleyan  type,"  and  had  "  a  rich  personal  religious  ex- 
perience." In  his  last  sickness  of  more  than  a  year's 
continuance  he  suffered  much,  but  amid  all  was  enabled 
to  say,  "  The  Lord's  will  be  done." 

Rev.  Benjamin  Day  was  the  eldest  but  one  of  the 
notable  Day  brothers  of  New  Providence,  N.  J.,  who 
entered  the  ministry.  Born  January  31,  1807  ;  was 
converted  at  sixteen  ;  joined  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence in  1832,  one  year  before  his  eldest  brother,  Mul- 
ford,  and  in  the  same  year  with  his  brother  Peter  D.; 
served  ten  charges  the  next  fourteen  years  ;  was  super- 
numerary the  following  six  years  ;  resumed  pastoral 
work  and  served  two  charges  two  years  each,  one  of 
them  for  the  second  time;  was  made  presiding  elder  of 
Newton  District  and  served  four  years,  then  of  Paterson 
(Jersey  City)  District  and  served  four  years,  becoming 
supernumerary  in  1864  and  so  continuing.  In  1869  he 
left  New  Jersey  and  went  to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where 
he  became  associated  with  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  where  at  his  funeral  Dr.  Coburn  spoke  of 
his  "pure,  transparent  character,"  and  the  ofificial  board 
testified  of  him  as  "one  who  has  long  served  the  church 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  241 


of  Ann  Arbor  and  the  cause  of  Christianity  with  singu- 
lar faithfulness."  As  another  wrote,  "It  was  a  privilege 
to  know  him,  and  his  friendship  was  a  benediction." 
He  led  the  Newark  Conference  delegation  to  the  General 
Conference  of  i860. 

Rev.  Charles  Mavburv  was  born  of  Protestant 
parents  in  Ireland  March  4,  1854,  and  when  about 
twenty  came  to  this  country  ;  was  converted  in  a  re- 
vival at  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  felt  called  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry;  entered  and  passed  through  Claverack 
Institute;  in  1884  was  graduated  at  Drew  Tiieological 
Seminary  ;  and  the  same  spring  admitted  to  the  Newark 
Conference.  His  brief  ministry  covered  but  eight  years 
and  was  given  to  three  charges,  Campgaw,  South 
Market  Street,  Newark,  and  Westtown  and  Unionville, 
serving  in  each  with  marked  success.  After  a  month's- 
sickness,  as  the  end  approached,  he  said  to  his  dear 
wife,  "Take  our  Charlie  [seven  years  old]  to  prayer 
morning,  noon,  and  night;  teach  him  to  love  God,  so 
that  he  may  be  a  blessing  to  society  if  he  should  be 
spared."  With  excellent  equipment  for  his  work, 
Brother  Maybury  was  a  young  minister  of  unusual 
promise. 

Rev.  Ambrose  Stewart  Compton  was  born  August 
23,  1823,  and  "born  again,"  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  for 
several  years  he  labored  usefully  as  a  local  preacher,  and 
where  he  entered  New  Jersey  Conference  at  its  session 
in  Broad  Street  (St.  Paul's)  Church  in  1856,  having 
served  as  a  supply  the  previous  year.  Then  followed 
eleven  successive  pastorates,  extending  over  twenty-two 
years.  In  1878  he  became  a  supernumerary,  but  next 
year  resumed  the  pastoral  work  and  labored  five  years 
in  two  other  charges,  taking  a  change  of  relation  again 
in  1 884.  his  health  having  become  impaired  through  the 
protracted  sufferings  of  his  wife  in  their  last  charge.  A 


242 


Sunset  Memories, 


few  months  later  she  passed  through  the  gates,  "not 
ajar,  but  wide  open,"  as  she  had  recently  said.  After 
this  he  resided  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Daniel  W.  Disos- 
way,  whose  home  from  1885  was  at  Ocean  Grove,  where 
Brother  Compton  found  a  very  congenial  atmosphere. 
Here  the  shock  occasioned  by  the  sudden  death  of  his 
estimable  son-in-law  probably  hastened  his  own  death, 
about  a  year  later.  "  His  sick  room  was  a  Bethel."  By 
the  writer  his  company  and  his  home  were  often  found 
happy  and  helpful. 

Rev.  John  B.  Mathis  was  a  man  whose  great  modesty 
was  more  than  equaled  by  his  real  excellence.  With  a 
])lain  education,  a  plain  personal  appearance,  plain  man- 
ners in  the  pul[)it  as  among  the  pcoj^Ie,  and  but  little 
known  outside  of  his  own  charges,  he  was  yet  one  of  the 
most  acceptable,  beloved,  and  useful  ministers  among 
us.  "  He  was  so  well  beloved  in  all  the  region  where  he 
labored  that  fretpiently  he  was  by  invitation  of  the 
church  stationed  in  adjoining  charges,  and  twice  fdled  a 
second  pastorate.  Thus  he  spent  fifteen  years  of  his 
successful  ministry  at  Waipack  Center,  Hainesburg,  and 
Hainesville,  contiguous  charges."  Let  me  add  that  he 
Avas  born  October  14,  1814,  at  Bass  River  (now  New 
Gretna),  Burlington  County,  N.  J.,  on  "the  shore" — a 
region  which,  with  its  pines  and  sand,  has  sent  forth  not 
a  few  ministers  of  great  influence  and  usefulness,  such 
as  the  Atwood  brothers,  Anthony  and  Joseph,  Noah 
Edwards,  Alphonso  A.  Willetts,  Charles  S.  Downs, 
Samuel  Parker,  Charles  Fletcher  Downs,  the  Adams 
brothers,  Daniel  L.  and  John  E.,  Josephus  Deander 
Sooy,  Charles  H.  McAnney,  and,  going  back  several 
generations,  John  Collins  and  Learner  ]51ackman,  both 
of  whom  became  distinguished  members  of  the  Western 
Conference.  Brother  Mathis  was  converted  at  nineteen, 
and  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1852,  filled 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  243 

fourteen  charges  in  tliirty-two  years,  and  passed  to  the 
retired  list  in  1 885. 

Rev.  Isaac  Wesley  Cole  was  born  at  Arlington,  X. 
J.,  November  4,  1820,  was  converted  at  eighteen,  and 
united  with  the  Church  at  Belleville,  \.  J.  In  1S52  he 
entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference,  having  previously 
served  as  a  supply.  The  next  year  he  went  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  California,  remaining  about  three  years  and 
then  returning  by  reason  of  his  own  and  his  wife's  im- 
l)aired  health.  Resuming  work  at  home  in  1857,  he 
filled  fifteen  charges,  and  in  18S4  took  a  supernumerary 
relation.  "  He  was  a  successful  workman  in  God's  har- 
vest field.  In  every  appointment  he  paid  off  indebted- 
ness, improved  church  property,  erected  new  buildings, 
and  won  souls."  "  His  dying  testimony  was  clear." 
Besides  leaving  behind  him  a  good  name,  he  generously 
deeded  to  tlie  trustees  of  the  Centenary  Fund  and 
Preachers'  Aid  Society  of  the  Newark  Conference  liis 
jjleasant  home  at  \Voodside,  Newark,  to  be  used  by  his 
devoted  wife  until  she,  too,  shall  be  translated  to  the 
"house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

Rev.  John  Newton  Crane  began  his  ministry  at 
twenty-two,  having  been  converted  six  years  before;  was 
admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Conference  in  1 833,  after 
serving  as  a  supply;  spent  the  next  thirty-five  years  in 
filling  twenty-two  pastoral  charges;  was  supcrnumerar\- 
in  1868-70;  became  effective  in  187 1,  and,  having  served 
a  year  as  pastor  at  Milburn,  became  chaplain  of  the 
Minard  Home  at  Morristown.  "  In  revival  work  he  had 
great  success,  by  the  grace  of  God  winning  many  souls 
for  Christ."  During  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  lie  re- 
sided in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Roseville 
Quarterly  Conference.  "  He  fre([uently  assisted  tiie 
preachers  in  charge,  and  always  with  acceptance  to  the 
congregation.    He  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  com- 


244 


Sunset  Memories. 


munity  in  which  he  dwelt.  .  .  .  His  was  a  worthy  life 
and  a  happy  death."  He  was  born  at  West  Bloomfield 
(now  Montclair),  N.  J.,  December  26,  1810. 

Rev.  Thomas,  Hewlings  Stockton  came  to  the 
Newark  Conference  by  transfer  in  1878  from  the  New 
Jersey  Conference,  of  which  he  had  been  a  member  for 
seven  years.    His  father  was  the  well-known  Thomas 

H.  Stockton,  D.l).,  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church, 
"an  elo(iucnt  man  and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,"  and 
the  son  inherited  no  small  measure  of  the  father's  preach- 
int;  ability.  During  five  years  he  filled  two  pastorates 
in  our  Conference  work,  and  was  then  appointed  to 
Buenos  Ayres,  South  America,  where  his  ministry  proved 
a  very  successful  one.    In  the  latter  part  of  the  year 

I. S9I  he  came  to  the  United  States  for  rest  and  relief. 
His  healtli  improved  and  he  returned  to  his  work,  but  it 

seems  his  return  was  prematuie,  for  he  died  of  nervous 
exhaustion  July  29,  1892."  He  was  liorn  in  Philadel- 
phia Mny  26,  1839. 

Rev.  'I'lioMAs  HoLi.iNcsHEAD  Smith  was  a  native  of 
England;  Ijorn  January  15,  1S19;  was  converted  when 
very  young,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  Mhen  he  was 
but  sixteen,  thenceforward  laboring  as  a  local  preacher 
under  the  circuit  plan.  He  came  to  New  York  in  1848, 
and  one  year  later  was  called  to  supjjly  the  church  at 
Orange,  N.  J.,  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  T.  Crane, 
having  been  elected  piinci])al  of  Pennington  Seminary. 
In  1850  he  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  and  was 
ap[)ointed  to  the  same  chuich,  including  wliich  he  filled 
seventeen  charges,  presided  over  two  districts,  was  super- 
numerary one  year  (1890),  then  made  effective  and  ap- 
pointed corresponding  secretary  of  the  Conference  Tract 
Society  in  1891  and  1892.  Brother  Smith  was  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity,  a  strong  preacher,  a  true  friend,  a  lov- 
ing husband  and  father.    Thrice  at  different  times  we 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  245 


roomed  together  during  Conference  week,  and  always 
found  our  fellowship,  as  I  believe,  mutually  pleasant  and 
profitable.  The  last  occasion  of  this  kind  was  during 
the  Conference  at  I'lainfield  in  1889,  at  the  home  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  David  J.  Yerkes,  the  distinguished  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Cluirch. 

Rev.  Ralph  Stover  Arndt  was  born  near  Easton,  Pa., 
June  4,  1826,  his  parents  removing  five  years  later  to  War- 
ren County,  N.  J.  Reared  in  a  home  of  deep  piety,  he 
was  converted  at  nineteen  and  soon  after  felt  called  to  the 
ministry;  became  a  student  at  Pennington  Seminary;  in 
1848  served  as  a  sui)ply  in  his  home  county;  a  year  later 
entered  the  New  Jersey  Conference  and  continued  his 
ministry  till  1890,  filling  twenty-one  pastoral  charges  and 
one  term  as  presiding  elder  of  the  Elizabeth  District. 
"As  a  preacher  he  was  held  in  higli  esteem.  His  sermons 
were  well  prepared,  his  style  cliaste,  his  delivery  quiet, 
yet  earnest  and  impressive.  ...  In  temperament  he  was 
mild  and  in  manner  very  agreeable.  .  .  .  Many  of  us 
will  recall  his  ciieerful  greeting  in  his  home  and  else- 
where, and  the  sunsliine  that  he  diffused  all  around  him. 
.  .  .  His  domestic  life  was  exceedingly  beautiful."  Tlie 
illness  of  nearly  two  years  preceding  his  death  was 
borne  with  devout  patience  and  cheerfulness.  The 
writer  had  excellent  opportunity  for  knowing  him,  hav- 
ing been  his  presiding  elder  and  having  had  him  in  turn 
as  such;  and  "to  know  him  was  to  love  him." 

Rev.  Alexander  Lawrence  Brice,  D.I).,  "  was  a 
truly  great  man."  So  we  remarked  to  Dr.  Daniel  R.  Low- 
rie  on  the  day  of  the  funeral,  and  immediately  justified 
the  statement  by  giving  substantially  the  following  rea- 
son :  For  one  with  his  small  beginnings  of  ojqjortunity, 
education,  and  social  influence,  without  jjatronage  or 
favoritism,  constitutionally  timid  and  shrinking,  to  have 
attained  by  dint  of  honest,  conscientious,  steady  devo' 


246 


Sunset  Memories. 


tion  to  God  and  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  for  so 
many  years  maintained  the  high  position  of  honor  and 
influence  accorded  to  him,  then  to  have  died  in  a  ripe 
age  with  this  honoi;  and  influence  undiminished — here- 
in is  conclusive  proof  that  he  must  have  been  essen- 
tially a  great  man.  During  twenty-five  years  "he  was 
pastor  of  thirteen  different  churches,  seven  of  them  be- 
ing in  our  principal  cities,  and  for  twenty  years  he  was 
a  presiding  elder."  As  a  preacher  he  was  "earnest, 
dignified,  instructive."  Three  times  he  was  a  member 
of  the  General  Conference  and  three  times  a  reserve 
delegate;  sixteen  consecutive  years  a  member  of  the 
Missionary  Board;  from  its  beginning  a  trustee  and  the 
treasurer  of  the  Centenary  Fund  and  Preachers'  Aid 
Society;  during  all  its  history  a  trustee  of  the  Confer- 
ence collegiate  institute;  and  for  many  years  a  trustee  of 
the  camp  meeting  association  at  Mount  Tabor.  Dr.  Brice 
was  a  well-balanced  man  in  whom  there  centered  a  rare 
combination  of  the  best  qualities — the  perfect  gentle- 
man, the  consistent  Christian,  the  wise  counselor,  the 
impartial  arbiter,  the  skillful  financier,  the  modest  but 
self-reliant  leader,  the  ready  helper,  the  generous  giver, 
the  sincere,  faithful  friend,  the  honest,  unselfish,  pains- 
taking, successful  preacher,  pastor,  and  presiding  elder. 
He  was  born  in  Suffield,  Conn.,  October  24,  1822,  en- 
tered the  New  Jersey  Conference,  after  a  year's  supply- 
ing, in  1847,  and  died  in  peace  after  a  brief  illness.  His 
funeral  was  remarkable  for  the  number  of  ministers- 
more  than  a  hundred — in  attendance.  "  I  feel  lonely," 
was  the  low,  sad  murmur  of  many  besides  the  writer  as 
we  saw  him  borne  away  so  soon  after  the  quick  depar- 
tures of  Smith  and  Arndt — the  strong  "  threefold  cord  " 
suddenly  broken! 

Rev.  Alkkk  t  Halsev  Brown  was  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  A\n\\  30,  1829;  converted  at  a  camp  meeting 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  247 


when  ten  years  old  ;  at  suitable  age  entered  Wesleyan 
University,  and  afterward  Concord  ]?iblical  Institute; 
was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference  in  1855  ; 
spent  the  next  eighteen  years  in  filling  eleven  charges; 
was  a  supernumerary  two  years,  and,  then  becoming 
effective,  served  three  more  years  as  pastor  in  three 
charges.  This  ended  his  i)astoral  work,  but  not  his  ac- 
tivity, for  he  could  not  be  inactive.  "  His  zeal  for  the 
truth  well-nigh  consumed  him.  All  his  life  with  a  frail 
body,  he  wrought  for  God  as  if  he  were  a  giant  with 
sword  and  battle-ax."  In  thought  and  conviction  he 
was  a  quarter  century  in  advance  of  his  generation.  The 
"  |)lanning,  l)uilding,  furnishing,  and  managing"  of  the 
"Clood  Will  Institute,"  in  Roseville,  Newark,  "was  the 
closing  and  crowning  work  of  his  life."  His  last  week 
on  earth  was  one  of  extraordinary  suffering;  yet  amid 
it  all  he  could  say,  "  Not  my  will,  Father,  but  thine  be 
done." 

Rev.  Jacob  P.  Fort,  born  at  Peniberton,  N.  J.,  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1818,  was  converted  at  sixteen  under  the  Rev. 
Henry  Boehm  and,  feeling  called  to  the  ministry,  sought 
by  diligent  study  to  jirepare  himself  for  it.  He  was  one 
of  the  notable  class  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey  Confer- 
ence in  1844,  and  "for  forty-five  years,  without  a  rest 
or  break  in  his  work,"  he  continued  "  to  receive  and  fill, 
with  remarkable  diligence,  his  appointments,"  twenty- 
three  in  number.  "  He  looked  closely  after  the  work  as- 
signed him;  not  only  the  temporal,  but  the  spiritual,  in- 
terests of  the  church  prospered  in  his  hands.  Many  gra- 
cious revivals  with  their  lasting  fruits  survive  him."  When 
compelled  in  1889  to  take  a  supernumerary  relation,  "he 
manfully  accepted  the  inevitable  and  was  the  same  genial, 
loving  Christian  gentleman,  still  seeking  to  do  what  he 
could  to  advance  the  Redeemer's  kingdom."  He  fixed 
his  home  in  Newark,  where  he  died  suddenly  amid  many 


248 


Sunset  Memories. 


regrets  and  tears.  He  was  a  man  of  clear  head,  warm 
heart,  philanthropic  spirit,  and  godly  life. 

Rev.  Josiah  Flint  Cankield  had  a  notable  lineage, 
his  mother's  father  having  been  the  Rev.  James  Cald- 
well, of  Revolutionary  renown,  pastor  of  the  old  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.  Born  at  Mor- 
ris Plains,  N.  J.,  March  22,  1808,  he  was  converted  at 
twenty  in  the  great  revival  of  1828  at  Morristown,  un- 
der the  Rev.  Anthony  Atwood,  and  soon  felt  called  to 
the  ministry.  In  1830  he  entered  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  with  such  men  as  John  L.  Lenhart,  Caleb 
A.  Lippincott,  and  Edmund  S.  Janes  (afterward  bishop), 
and  filled  twenty  pastoral  charges  during  the  next  twenty- 
^  five  years,  all  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  In  1855  his  name 
was  placed  on  the  retired  list,  where  it  continued  during 
the  balance  of  his  life,  nearly  forty  years.  Most  of  these 
years  were  passed  in  Illinois;  but  in  1888  he  returned 
to  his  native  State  and  settled  at  Ocean  City.  When 
eighty-one  he  preached  twice  on  Sunday  and  rode  eight- 
een miles.  His  favorite  theme  was  entire  sanctification. 
His  grandson  wrote  that  he  loved  his  old  (Ireek  Testa- 
ment very  much  and  was  very  fond  of  the  beautiful, 
spending  much  time  in  the  culture  of  flowers.  During 
his  last  month  of  life  he  was  a  great  sufferer,  but  never 
failed  to  trust  in  God. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.  Jacoiuis  was  born  at  Pine  Brook, 
N.  J.,  November  20,  1834,  and  in  early  youth  became  a 
member  of  the  old  Clinton  Street  Church  of  Newark  in 
her  palmy  days.  "Naturally  studious,  his  new  environ- 
ments inspired  him  with  new  impulses  toward  learning. 
Intensely  spiritual,  he  loved  the  house  of  God  and  the 
])lace  of  prayer."  In  1866  I  found  him  a  local  preacher 
at  Bloomingdale,  N.  J.,  in  charge  of  the  public  school 
at  that  ])lace;  and,  learning  from  him  a  desire  to  enter 
the  itinerant  work,  arrangements  were  made  with  him  to 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  249 


supply  Ladentown  charge  llic  next  year.  At  tlie  Con- 
ference of  1868  he  was  elected  and  ordained  a  deacon 
under  the  rule  for  local  jjreachers,  being  also  admitted 
on  trial,  and  returned  to  the  same  charge,  including 
which  he  filled  fourteen  appointments  during  the  next 
twenty-seven  years.  He  had  a  laudable  ambition  for 
goodness,  greatness,  and  success  of  the  best  ty[)e.  His 
last  sickness  was  of  short  duration.  Anticipating  a 
(juestion  from  his  anxious  wife  concerning  his  peace 
with  God,  he  said,  "  That  is  all  settled;  everything  is  all 
right." 

Rev.  IMartin  Herr  was  born  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  May  6,  1820,  and  when  eight  years  old  found  the 
"pearl  of  great  price,"  Init  did  not  unite  with  the 
Church  till  some  years  later.  At  length  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  and,  Iea\'ing  his  native  State,  was  admitted  to 
the  New  Jerse\'  Conference  in  1844.  Then  followed 
sixteen  jjasLorates,  closing  with  1871.  He  "then  took  a 
supernuinerar)-  relation  and  purchased  a  {property  at 
^\'l^ile  House,  consisting  of  a  small  farm  and  a  country 
store.  Here  he  spent  the  last  twenty-five  [twenty-four] 
years  of  his  life  in  labors  incident  to  his  business,  fre- 
quently preaching  for  the  pastors  in  that  vicinity.  .  .  . 
His  preaching  ability  was  regarded  as  above  the  ordi- 
nary. .  .  .  He  was  an  excellent  administrator  and  a 
good  pastor."  ^\'e  recall  with  pleasure  our  (piarterly 
visits  to  his  charge  and  his  home  at  Ilackensack  in  1866, 
and  well  remember  a  centennial  service,  held  under  his 
wise  planning  and  direction,  in  the;  interest  of  the  great 
Centennial  of  American  Methodism.  His  last  sickness 
was  very  severe  and  trying,  but  his  faith  proved  tri- 
umphant. 

Rev.  William  Day  was  born  in  Larkfield,  England, 
November  16,  1827,  and  converted  on  his  seventeenth 
birthday.    He  received  his  first  love  feast  ticket  from, 


250 


Sunset  Memories. 


the  Rev.  Benjamin  Clough,  who  said,  "  There,  William, 
take  that,  and  carry  it  up  to  the  gate  of  heaven  with 
you."  He  soon  became  an  exhorter  and  then  a  local 
preacher,  doing  e^^cellent  service  as  such  in  the  circuit 
work.  Having  entered  the  Richmond  Theological  In- 
stitute, he  was  compelled  by  failure  of  health  to  leave 
before  finishing  his  course.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  March,  1850;  was  admitted  to  the  New  Jersey 
Conference  in  April,  1851;  and  served  as  pastor  of 
twenty-one  charges,  mostly  city  stations,  until  1895, 
when  he  was  suddenly  called  from  labor  to  reward.  He 
was  a  superior  preacher,  a  loving,  synipatlictic  pastor, 
an  affectionate  friend,  and  always  successful  in  his 
work.  In  his  home  life  he  was  overgenerous.  At  the 
close  of  a  Tract  Board  meeting  in  New  York,  as  we 
talked  together,  he  spoke  tenderly  of  liis  personal  friend- 
ship and  made  feeling  reference  to  the  death  of  several 
brethren  of  about  his  own  age  in  the  Conference,  pro- 
ducing in  his  heart  a  sad  sense  of  loneliness.  His  own 
death  soon  after  was  a  great  surprise  and  sorrow. 
,  Rev.  Charles  Howland  Bassett  was  born  at  Great 
Hill,  Conn.,  December  10,  1864,  and  "  gave  his  heart  to 
the  Lord  when  he  was  but  eleven  years  of  age."  He 
was  graduated  from  Cazenovia  Seminary  in  1886,  from 
Syracuse  University  in  1890,  and  from  Drew  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  in  1895,  He  joined  the  Northern  New 
York  Conference  in  1890,  having  successfully  served  as 
a  supply  the  previous  year.  In  1894  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Newark  Conference  and  appointed  to  Branchville, 
N.  J.,  but  in  June,  1895,  was  made  assistant  pastor  of 
Market  Street  Cluirch  in  Paterson,  where  after  a  few 
weeks  of  faithful  service  he  was  attacked  with  a  fatal 
typhoid  fever.  His  brief  career  was  marked  by  great 
toils  and  great  successes.  "  To  save  men  from  sin  was 
his  great  ambition.  .  .  .  God  always  honors  a  holy  pas- 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  251 


sion  for  saving  souls,  and  Brother  Bassett  did  not  go  to 
meet  the  Redeemer  empty-handed." 

Rev.  Charles  Ridgewav  Snyder  was  born  at  Alla- 
mucliy,  N.  J.,  February  3,  1837,  and  converted  wlien 
fourteen  under  the  ministry  of  Dr.  John  S.  Porter,  wliose 
son-in-law  he  became  on  March  3,  1863.  He  had  a 
noteworthy  parentage.  His  father  belonged  to  a  large, 
intelligent,  and  influential  family,  while  his  middle  name, 
Ridgeway,  pointed  to  the  family  name  of  his  mother,  a 
name  which  early  came  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  and  stood 
for  culture  and  manifold  excellences.  That  mother  at- 
tained a  ripe  old  age,  with  a  rich  Christian  experience, 
and  died  but  a  few  years  ago  full  of  honors.  The  name 
"Aunt  Sarah"  was  pleasantly  familiar.  Charles  was 
educated  at  Pennington  Seminary,  Wesleyan  University, 
and  Dickinson  College;  entered  the  Newark  Conference 
in  i86i  ;  served  five  pastoral  charges  until  1867,  when 
he  became  supernumerary  and  removed  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  made  himself  very  useful.  Returning  afler 
several  years'  absence,  he  became  effective  in  1882  and 
occupied  six  charges,  becoming  supernumerary  again  in 
1895.  Then  followed  months  of  patient  suffering  till 
death  ensued.  Here  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many 
ways,  but  in  none  so  much  as  in  his  wonderful  Christian 
experiences,  as  reported  by  the  Rev.  L.  C.  MuUer.  He 
described  himself  as  "a  modern  Tantalus  "•  up  to  June, 
1895.  "  He  was  continually  having  his  expectations 
excited,  to  suffer  disappointment.  .  .  .  Now  he  was  no 
longer  Tantalus;  he  was  permitted  to  drink  of  the  allur- 
ing cup  and  was  content.  He  found  himself  as  never 
before  satisfied."  His  testimony  was:  "  All  my  concep- 
tions of  the  possibilities  of  tlie  Christian  life  have  been 
surpassed.  God  has  surprised  me  as  a  sufficiency,  stay, 
and  joy.  Nobody  need  sympathize  with  me  in  connec- 
tion with  this  sickness."    At  another  time  he  said:  "  I 


252 


Sunset  Memories. 


had  not  thought  it  possible  for  one  to  have  suc  h  abso- 
hitc  assurance  for  reaching  heaven.  I  have  such  cer- 
tainty there  seems  no  room  for  failure."  What  a  sub- 
lime illustration  vf^ere  these  experiences  of  that  inspired 
declaration,  "Able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think!  "  Are  not  such  experiences 
for  each  of  us  ?  The  funeral  services  were  held  at  the 
residence  of  his  well-known  brother,  Mr.  William  V. 
Snyder,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 

Rev.  Nelson  Alexander  Macnilhol  was  born  in 
]'hiladclphia,  Ta.,  August  2,  1851,  and  converted  when 
about  seventeen.  He  came  to  the  Newark  Conference 
in  1890  by  transfer  from  the  New  Jersey,  where  for 
fourteen  years  he  had  been  esteemed  "  very  highly  in 
love  "  for  his  work's  sake,  as  also  for  his  jjcrsonal  quali- 
ties. With  good  success  he  served  a  full  term  of  five 
years  at  the  Halsey  Street  Church,  Newark,  and  was 
then  ap])ointed  to  Market  Street  Church,  Paterson. 
Once  the  writer  heard  him  preach  an  extraordinary  ser- 
mon on  an  ordinary  occasion  to  a  good,  but  not  full,  con- 
gregation. I  said,  "  Such  a  sermon  ought  to  have  been 
heard  by  thousands;  "  and  I  added,  "  If  Talmage  can 
crowd  his  Brooklyn  Tabernacle  every  Sunday,  Mac- 
nichol  ought  as  often  to  fill  every  sitting  in  Malsey 
Street  Church,  below  and  above."  Well  might  his 
biographer  say,  "  He  had  rare  gifts  of  textual  illumina- 
tion. By  a  quick  emphasis,  a  studied  pause,  or  a  quaint 
simile  he  would  make  lasting  impressions.  His  power 
of  illustration  was  rich,  varied,  and  striking."  Was  his 
death  untimely  ?  So  it  seems  to  human  vision — like 
Hudson's  and  Batchelder's,  McKeever's  and  Hanlon's. 
Would  rest  or  lighter  work  have  saved  them  longer  to 
the  Church.'  'Who  knoweth  ?  "The  secret  things  be- 
long unto  the  Lord  our  Cod." 

Hey.  Cyreniu.s  Andersun  WoMtioucJH  was  born  at 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  253 


Ringoes,  N.  J.,  May  17,  1S25,  began  liis  Cluislian  life 
in  early  youth,  entered  the  New  Jersey  Conlerenc  e  in 
1854,  and  spent  tiie  next  thirty  years  in  ser\  ing  sixteen 
|)astoral  charges.  In  18S5  iiis  rehition  was  ciKingccl  lioni 
effective  to  supernumerary.  Afterward  death  \  isiud  his 
liome  in  the  removal  of  his  cherished  wife,  and  was 
followed  by  a  personal  attack  of  paralysis  wliicli  made 
articulation  difficult.  lUit  amid  all  he  was  ]ieaceful, 
resigned,  and  hajjpy  in  the  conscious  ])reseiice  of  liis 
covenant-keeping  ( '.od  and  under  the  tender  ministries 
of  his  children.  A  final  Mow  came  at  length,  rendering 
speech  impossiliK';  Imt  by  unmistakable  signs  he  still 
responded  to  cw  i)-  mLiition  of  the  lovetl  name  of  jcsus. 
In  1856  and  i>'^57  n\  e  were  slatiuned  near  each  other  on 
Staten  Island  ami  went  together  t(j  New  ^'ork  as  mem- 
bers of  Dr.  .Strong's  class  in  the  dreek  and  iiebrew. 
Brother  ^\'ombough  was  a  tliorougldy  ( onscienlious 
Christian,  a  good  preacher,  a  faithfid  pastor,  wliose  life 
and  character  alwax's  uKule  for  righteousness. 

Rev.  IIk,\rv  larrz  was  born  in  Sandyston,  N.  J., 
September  25,  1S24,  experienced  con\'eision  when  about 
eiglitecn,  soon  after  felt  called  to  preach,  and  was  li- 
censed, first  as  an  exhorter,  and  later  as  a  local  preaclier, 
in  which  relation  he  "  sujjplied  a  number  of  i  harges 
under  the  elder."  He  was  admitted  to  the  Newark  Con- 
ference in  i860,  and  during  the  ensuing  liiirly-four 
years  served  as  pastor  of  thirteen  charges,  "liis  love 
for  preaching  was  im  incible.  One  of  the  saddest  days 
of  his  life  was  when,  two  years  ago,  he  was  advised  to 
give  up  preaching  and  retire  from  the  active  work.  .  .  . 
As  a  preacher  he  possessed  rare  gifts.  Me  had  native 
eloquence.  His  sermons  were  biblical  and  interesting. 
.  .  .  He  was  a  man  of  power  in  i)rayer,  ...  He  grew 
old  sweetly  and  beautifully."  Having  gone  to  \  isit  his 
son  at  Sus(]uehanna,  N.  Y.,  he  was  taken  ill  with  pneu- 
17 


254 


Sunset  Memories. 


monia  a  few  days  after  jireaching  on  Sunday  evening, 
January  19;  but  he  was  suljuiissive  to  the  will  of  God 
and  died  in  peace.  'I  he  writer  recalls  with  pleasure  the 
warm  hospitality  of  himself  and  his  estimable  wife  in 
more  than  one  of  their  charges. 

Rev.  Lewis  Goodwin  Griffith  was  born  at  Rock 
Hill,  Pa.,  October  9,  1863,  and  converted  at  nineteen 
in  Philadelphia.  He  entered  Dickinson  College  in  1885, 
and  was  graduated  from  Drew  Theological  Seminary  in 
1891,  having  for  two  years  served  as  a  supply  at  Parsip- 
pany.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Newark  Conference  the 
same  spring  and  had  filled  two  charges  when,  during 
1893,  he  was  stricken  down  with  typhoid  fever,  which  re- 
sulted in  a  fatal  consumption.  He  was  "  a  true  Chris- 
tian minister  "  and  faithful  in  liis  work.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Camden,  N.  J.,  where  ai)propriate  funeral 
services  were  conducted  by  ministers  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference. 

Rev.  John  Ogden  Winner  was  born  in  Sussex 
County,  N.  J.,  May  29,  1826.  His  father  was  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Winner,  D.D.,  one  of  the  heroes  of  early  New 
Jersey  Methodism.  He  was  a  man  of  great  power  in 
the  pulpit  and  in  the  arena  of  Conference  debate.  The 
writer  well  remembers  him  as  his  presiding  elder  and  in 
other  relations.  His  now  departed  son  possessed  many 
of  the  father's  noble  qualities,  his  early  educational  ad- 
vantages being  greatly  superior.  His  preparatory  course 
at  Pennington  Seminary  was  followed  by  iiis  gradiiation 
at  Dickinson  College  in  1848,  he  having,  in  April  of  the 
same  year,  been  admitted  on  trial  in  the  New  Jersey 
Conference.  From  tiiis  time  he  filled  ten  pastoral 
charges,  until  1865,  when  he  became  supernumerary, 
resuming  active  pastoral  work  in  1873  and  continuing 
the  same  until  April,  1895,  less  than  a  year  before  his 
death.    He  was  an  instructive  and  edifying  preacher. 


New  Jersey  and  Newark  Conferences.  255 


a  faithful  pastor,  a  sincere  friend,  and  stood  at  tlie 
head  of  a  family  of  notable  distinction  and  worth. 
His  only  son,  the  Rev.  John  ( ).  W  inner,  of  the  Newark 
Conference,  wortiiily  represents  his  ascended  father. 
My  recollections  of  lirother  Winner's  ardent  personal 
friendship  are  among  the  most  precious. 

All,  how  the  Conference  death  roll  is  swelling!  Dur- 
ing thirty-eiglit  fleeting  _\ears  it  has  grown  to  ninety-six. 
It  began  with  Ichabod — "  where  is  the  glory  ?  " — and  now 
closes  at  date  willi  Jolin — "the  gift  or  grace  of  God," — 
the  glory-cruwned  seer  of  Patmos  !  Who'll  be  the  next.' 
Let  every  tlioiiglitful  reader  ask,  "Lord,  is  it  I?"  De- 
lightful is  tile  thought  that  as  tlic  deatli  roll  increases  the 
number  of  \\  itnesses  to  conquest  over  death  correspond- 
ingly enlarges.  "Our  preachers  die  well  "  is  as  true  to- 
day as  when  John  Wesley  wrote  it: 

"  Our  glorious  Leader  claims  our  praise 

For  his  own  pattern  given  ; 
While  the  long  cloud  of  witnesses 

Show  the  same  path  to  heaven." 


PART  V. 

SUPLRNUMERARY  EXPERIENCES  AND 
REVIEW  SUPPLEMENTAL 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  259 


PART  V. 

Supernumerary  Experiences  and  Review  Supple- 
mental. 

me  tlie  transition  from  the  effective  to  the 
'  '  supernumerary  rehition  was  easy  and  even  grate- 
ful, producing  no  shock  and  causing  no  regrets;  first, 
because  1  had  served  my  long  day  of  fifty  active  years 
in  the  Conference;  and,  secondly,  because  it  allowed  me 
quietly  to  vacate  a  place  in  the  pastoral  work  for  some 
one  who  could  better  occupy  it.  Mingled  with  this  feel- 
ing, however,  was  one  of  humiliation  and  grief  in  the 
thought  of  becoming  a  claimant  on  the  funds  of  the 
Conference,  aside  from  which  my  happiness  would  have 
seemed  complete.  Happy,  indeed,  must  those  be  who 
are  able  to  close  a  lengthened  active  ministry  without 
dependence  upon  such  aid!  I  found  myself  taking 
kindly  to  the  pew  as  a  listener,  instead  of  occupying  the 
pulpit  as  a  preacher,  never  chafing  or  fretting  under  this 
new  providential  arrangement ;  in  fact,  it  has  proved  to 
be  quite  a  luxury  to  sit  under  the  ministry  of  our  suc- 
cessive pastors,  Dr.  James  I.  Boswell,  the  Rev.  Frank 
S.  Cookman,  and  the  Rev.  Edwin  N.  Crasto. 

Thus  set  free  from  "  all  time  and  toil  and  care  "  in 
the  pastoral  service,  what  could  I  find  to  occupy  my 
attention  and  save  my  life  from  a  dull  and  ciieerless 
monotony?  Not  more  natural  is  the  question  than  the 
answer  to  it  is  easy.  Had  I  from  boyhood  been  ;i  i)rcacli- 
er  and  pastor  simplj — nothing  more — an  irksome  monot- 
ony would  have  been  inevitable  ;  but  within  ))roper  limits 
I  had  also  been  "  a  tiller  of  the  ground  "  and  a  mechanic, 


260 


Sunset  Memories. 


without,  however,  remitting  close  habits  of  study.  Hence 
on  removing  in  tiie  s[)ring  of  1892  to  the  native  home  of 
my  wife  at  East  Madison,  N.  J.,  connected  with  which 
was  a  farm  with  a  garden,  I  had  full  opportunity  for  the 
use  of  rake  and  fork  and  hoe,  the  privilege  thus  afforded 
being  cheerfully  embraced  as  strength  and  other  duties 
would  permit.  Moreover,  for  some  twenty  years  I  had 
been  tlie  owner  of  a  full  chest  of  carpenter's  tools,  the 
impress  of  which  had  been  left  on  many  a  parsonage, 
and  the  convenience  of  which  was  now  realized  more 
than  e\  er  in  repairing  breaches  and  making  sundry  im- 
provements. Still  further,  my  large  library  continued  to 
invite  attention,  which  with  unabated  interest  continued 
to  be  given  to  it  in  the  preparation  of  new  sermons  and 
writing  for  the  press.  Though  hundreds  of  old  sermons 
had  been  carefully  preserved  in  stock,  I  found  far  greater 
pleasure  in  mapping  out  new  discourses  than  using  old 
ones  to  meet  occasional  or  frequent  calls  to  preach. 

After  two  years  of  happy  life  at  the  quiet  homestead 
a  sorrowful  change  occurred  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Tunis, 
the  kind,  loving  father ;  then  followed  the  settlement 
of  the  estate  under  the  executorship  of  Henry  W.  Tu- 
nis, the  youngest  son,  and  the  writer.  Within  this  year 
the  property  was  sold,  obliging  us  to  seek  another  home, 
which  we  found  in  the  borough  of  Madison,  where  our 
nearness  to  the  post  office,  stores,  and  trains,  as  also  to 
the  Methodist  Church  and  Drew  Theological  Seminary, 
has  proved  a  special  convenience.  On  arranging  the 
study  in  our  new  home  it  was  found  a  great  accommo- 
dation to  send  away,  as  a  small  gift  to  the  Drew  library, 
nearly  a  hundred  volumes,  large  and  small,  together 
with  sc\eral  boxes  of  magazines,  reports.  Conference 
Minutes,  pamphlets,  etc.,  which  were  accepted  through 
the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Ayres,  assistant  li- 
brarian. 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  261 


The  long  cherished  friendship  of  Dr.  Buttz,  the  ac- 
complished president,  with  the  enjoyable  acipiaintance 
of  the  other  distinguished  members  of  the  faculty,  ren- 
ders our  convenience  to  the  seminary  a  matter  of  very 
great  interest,  affording  as  it  does  the  delightful  privi- 
lege of  attending  the  lectures  given  by  eminent  special- 
ists and  others  before  the  students,  as  also  the  pleasure 
of  hearing  the  Wednesday  morning  sermon  by  some 
member  of  the  graduating  class.  Among  the  former  I 
mention  Dr.  C.  H.  Payne,  Joseph  Cook,  President  B.  P. 
Raymond,  Professor  J.  Rendel  Harris,  Dr.  T.  B.  Neely, 
Professor  Caspar  Rene  Gregory,  Dr.  M.  D.  Buell,  I^r. 
J.  C.  Hartzell,  and  Dr.  J.  M.  Buckley.  Others,  as  Dr. 
George  K.  Morris  and  Dr.  A.  B.  Leonard,  I  unfortu- 
nately failed  to  hear.  To  fitly  characterize  Dr.  Buck- 
ley's course  of  lectures  on  "  Extemporaneous  Speaking  " 
would  require  several  emphatic  adjectives,  with  each 
one  underscored  at  that.  I  had  repeatedly  heard  some 
veteran  minister  express  a  wish  to  live  his  life  over,  but 
I  had  never  shared  that  feeling  or  anything  approaching 
it ;  now,  however,  under  the  instruction  and  inspiration 
of  these  lectures,  with  such  a  living  example  before  me, 
I  was  brought  to  the  point  of  soliloquizing  thus:  If  it 
were  possible  for  me  to  begin  my  ministry  again,  with 
my  present  knowledge  and  experience  charged  with  the 
fresh  illumination  and  stimulus  of  these  forceful  utter- 
ances, there  seems  no  room  for  doubt  that  by  the  crown- 
ing help  of  God's  Spirit  I  could  preach  far  more  effi- 
ciently and  usefully  than  ever  in  the  past. 

To  have  personally  known  each  president  of  the  sem- 
inary from  its  beginning  till  now — McClintock,  Foster, 
Hurst,  Buttz — and  each  professor  during  the  same  pe- 
riod—  Nadal,  Miley,  Strong,  Burr,  Crooks.  Upham,  Kid- 
der, Sitterly,  Rogers,  Cramer,  Bowman — is  felt  to  have 
been  and  still  to  be  no  insignificant  iionor.    With  this 


262 


Sunset  Memories. 


has  come  the  added  pleasure  of  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  Dr.  George  G.  Saxe  and  Dr.  Homer  Eaton  as 
neighbors  and  fellow-worshipers  in  the  same  church. 
Yet  another  pleasure  is  found  in  the  friendship  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  Robert  Aikman,  pastor  emeritus  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

With  grateful  satisfaction  we  recall  the  years  of  our 
residence  at  East  Madison,  where,  in  the  old  historic, 
but  well-kept,  schoolhouse  the  Sunday  evening  preach- 
ing service  was  usually  conducted  by  some  one  of  the  stu- 
dents, and  where  the  Tuesday  night  prayer  meetings,  led 
alternately  by  Messrs.  Aaron  P.  Condit  and  David  Y. 
Hedges,  were  often  delightfully  full  of  interest  and 
profit.  Seldom  is  sweeter  or  more  inspiring  music  any- 
where heard  than  was  heard  there  from  choir  and  con- 
gregation at  the  Sunday  evening  service.  Among  our 
neighbors  we  were  happy  in  having  many  of  the  kindest 
and  best. 

As  busy  thought  sweeps  over  the  past  I  am  constrained 
to  cry  out,  "  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all 
his  benefits  toward  me.'  "  Among  these  benefits  I  must 
reckon  a  personal  knowledge  of  all  the  bishops  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  from  its  beginning,  except- 
ing the  first  five,  with  Bishop  Emory,  whose  sudden 
death  occurred  in  less  than  four  years  after  his  election, 
and  when  I  was  but  twelve  years  old.  Including  the 
missionary  bishops  Taylor  and  Thoburn,  here  are  forty 
honored  men  the  panorama  of  whose  forms  and  faces 
has  been  passing  before  me  in  the  various  successive 
stages  of  my  life,  from  its  teens  till  the  opening  of  its 
eighth  decade  and  beyond.  Between  1842  and  1892 
twenty-five  of  these  presided  over  the  New  Jersey  and 
Newark  Conferences,  from  whom  I  received  my  fifty 
annual  appointments.  Associated  with  them  during  the 
same  period  were  more  than  two  hundred  presiding 


Supernumerary  Experiences. 


263 


elders,  often  the  same  men,  sitting  each  year  with  one 
of.  the  bishops  in  groups  of  four  or  five  to  assist  him  in 
fixing  the  appointments. 

And  now,  after  an  observation  and  experience  of 
more  than  half  a  century  as  to  the  working  of  our 
Church  polity,  if  I  should  say  that  among  all  these  of- 
ficials I  have  found  but  one  selfish  bishop,  with  one 
thoughtless  presiding  elder,  another  insincere,  and  a 
third  unkind,  I  feel  that  I  should  be  paying  a  compli- 
ment to  our  episcopacy,  presiding  eldership,  and  itiner- 
ant system  fiir  more  unqualified  than  could  justly  be 
paid  to  any  other  ecclesiastical  system  under  the  sun. 

In  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Rnnerv  for  April,  1864, 
appeared  an  article  from  my  pen  on  "  Our  Lord's  Prayer 
in  the  Garden,"  setting  forth  a  new  interpretation  which 
is  becoming  gradually  accepted  as  the  correct  view. 
After  its  publication  I  found  the  same  view  suggested  in 
McClintock  &  Strong's  Cyclopcedia.  At  this  writing  an 
article  with  the  title  of  "  Some  Thoughts  on  the  Last 
Things  "  is  in  the  hands  of  the  present  editor,  Dr.  Kel- 
ley,  for  publication. 

During  several  years,  by  request  of  the  Rev.  George 
Hughes,  Editor  of  the  Guide  to  Holiness,  I  furnished  the 
"  Berean  Holiness  Lesson  Leaves,"  assisted  in  prepar- 
ing his  book.  The  Beloved  Fhysiciaii,  revised  Four 
Pearls,  and  have  more  recently  been  serving  as  one  of 
the  corresponding  editors  of  the  Guide. 

Sometimes  my  pen  productions  have  been  wrongly 
credited,  and  sometimes  not  credited  at  all.  In  189 1  I 
wrote  three  or  four  serial  articles  for  the  Christian 
Standard,  of  Philadelphia,  and  soon  after  saw  an  extract 
from  one  of  them  in  the  Oeean  Groi'e  Record,  with  the 
heading,  "  Sinless  Human  Nature  of  Christ,"  credited 
to  "  Dr.  Whedon,  in  Northern  Christian  Advocate."  The 
mistake  was  as  complimentary  to  me  as  it  was  innocent 


264 


Sunset  Memories. 


on  the  part  of  Dr.  Wallace,  editor  of  the  Record.  In 
1887  the  Board  of  Education  published  in  its  program 
for  Children's  Day  a  hymn  which  I  had  written  a  few 
years  before  for  J'lie  Christian  Advocate,  where  it  was 
published  with  my  name  prefixed  ;  but  in  the  program, 
though  every  other  hymn  was  fully  credited  to  its  au- 
thor, my  name  was  wholly  oinitted. 

If  occasional  humiliating  slights  have  come  to  me  they 
have  been  far  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  un- 
sought honors  enjoyed,  as  election  to  the  General  Con- 
ference; service  for  eight  years  in  the  presiding  eldershij); 
joint  superintendence  for  several  years  of  the  religious 
services  at  Mount  Tabor;  a  member  of  the  first  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Centenary  Collegiate  Institute;  a  man- 
ager and  officer  for  years  of  the  Newark  Conference 
Historical  Society,  and  now  a  manager  of  the  Methodist 
Historical  Society  in  New  York  city;  one  of  the  board 
of  managers  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Tract  Society,  and  the  last  half  of  this 
time  or  longer  a  member  cf  the  executive  committee; 
the  chairman  of  a  committtee  of  thirteen  to  fry  an 
accused  member  of  the  Newark  Conference,  the  trial 
resulting  in  his  expulsion  ;  frequent  service  on  the  ex- 
amining, standing,  and  special  committees  of  the  Con- 
ference, as  also  on  the  board  of  stewards ;  and  a  trustee 
for  many  years  till  recently  of  the  Centenary  Fund  and 
Preachers'  Aid  Society,  serving  much  of  this  time  as 
president  of  the  board,  my  successor  being  the  present 
efficient  incumbent,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Halleron,  with  the 
same  faithful  secretary,  the  Rev.  Samuel  K.  Doolittle, 
and  the  new  corresponding  secretary,  the  Rev.  John  A. 
Gutteridge,  so  successful  in  his  work,  with  the  careful, 
painstaking,  whole  souled,  cnthusinstic  treasurer,  William 
H.  Murphy,  Esq.  Association  with  these  and  the  other 
distinguished  laymen  of  the  board,  Messrs.  Samuel  T. 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  265 


Smith,  Edward  L,  Dobbins,  John  M.  (IwinncU,  and 
Charles  C.  Cockefair,  together  with  its  other  well-known 
clerical  members,  was  found  to  be  delightfully  pleasant. 
Finally,  there  has  often  come  to  me  at  various  times,  tlie 
honor  of  presiding  temporarily  over  the  Annual  Con- 
ference sessions  by  appointment  of  the  bishop. 

Some  one  may  be  ready  to  say,  "  All  this  is  not  much." 
No,  not  much  comjiarcd  witli  the  lienors  enjoyed  by  some 
of  my  brethren,  and  not  much  as  looked  at  by  the  eyes  of 
a  towering  ambition  suc  li  as  never  belonged  to  me;  but 
quite  enough  to  satisfy  that  graufu!,  appreciative  spirit 
which  by  divine  grace  can  transmute  stones  to  iron,  wood 
to  brass,  brass  to  silver,  and  silver  to  gold  (Isa.  l.\,  17). 

In  1893  a  long-desired  consummation  was  reached  in 
the  sale  of  a  strip  of  land  at  South  Nyack,  N.  V.  For 
more  than  twenty-five  years  it  had  been  a  drain  through 
heavy  taxes  upon  my  slender  purse.  .\ll  through  those 
years  I  had  been  waiting  for  tiie  riglit  purchaser,  who 
at  length  came  in  tlie  person  of  the  Rev.  Ross  Taylor, 
son  of  Bishop  William  Tax  lor,  attended  by  his  e.vcellent 
wife.  Into  what  better  hands  could  it  have  fallen 
Alas,  that  three  of  their  lovely  <  hiklren  should  have 
been  swept  away  so  suddenly  into  eternity  by  the  mid- 
night flames  which  dismantled  their  new  substantial 
home!  But  their  faith  in  Cud  faltered  not.  And  now 
day  by  day  from  that  restored  new  home,  so  "beautiful 
for  situation,"  they  are  permitted,  witii  the  twofold 
vision  of  natural  and  spiritual  e\es,  to  look  forth  "and 
view  the  landscape  o'er."  Is  it  a  mere  fancy  that  the 
venerable  apostolic  bishop  may  some  day  here  rest 
awhile  until  another  chariot  of  fire,  like  to  lilijah's, 
shall  sweep  down  and  bear  him  up  to  the  sapphire 
throne  (Ezek.  i,  26;  x,  i)  ?  That  would  be  to  ascend 
from  one  delectable  mountain  slope  of  earth  and  "scale 
the  mount  of  Cod  "  in  the  heaven  of  heavens  I 


266 


Sunset  Memories. 


Among  our  pleasures  have  been  our  summer  visits  to 
Ocean  Grove,  that  marvelous,  matchless  Christian  Mecca 
of  "far  extended  fame."  It  has  many  rivals,  but  no 
equals.  If  Chautauqua  is  greater  in  some  respects,  as 
it  doubtless  is.  Ocean  Grove  bears  the  palm  in  many 
others  ;  as  its  comparative  proximity  to  tlie  two  great 
cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia;  its  sea  bathing 
advantages;  its  anniversary  services  in  the  interest  of  a 
greater  number  and  vaiiety  of  societies,  educational  and 
religious;  its  various  meetings  under  different  leaders 
for  the  special  promotion  of  holiness;  its  unequaled 
new  auditorium;  and,  greatest  of  all,  its  annual  camp 
meeting,  with  its  vast  congregations,  its  inspiring  music, 
directed  by  Professor  John  R.  Sweney,  its  eloquent  and 
stirring  sermons,  its  unique  surf  meetings,  its  earnest 
and  successful  revival  work — all  this  and  much  more, 
not  to  speak  of  the  strict  enforcement  of  its  rules  against 
Sabbath  desecration  and  the  liquor  traffic  in  all  its  forms, 
etc.  That  thousands  of  names  have  gone  up  for  record 
in  the  "  book  of  life  "  is  its  crowning  glory. 

The  most  eloquent  and  most  thrilling  sermon  ever 
heard  from  its  platform  by  the  writer  was  that  delivered 
several  years  since  by  Rev.  Dr.  B.  B.  Hamlin,  of  the 
Central  Pennsylvania  Conference,  on  the  "opening  of 
the  book,"  so  glowingly  pictured  in  the  fifth  chapter  of 
Revelation;  while  the  most  entertaining  and  entrancing 
lecture  was  that  given  by  General  John  B.  Gordon  in 
August,  1895,  on  "The  Last  Days  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy." The  enthusiasm  of  the  nearly  ten  thousand 
who  packed  the  vast  new  auditorium  was  surpassing, 
unbounded. 

Last  year  a  new  enterprise  was  started  on  its  promis- 
ing career,  winning  its  way  at  once  to  public  favor. 
"The  Summer  School  of  Theology,"  under  the  dean- 
ship  of  tiie  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  E.  Price,  is  plainly  destined 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  267 


to  become  one  of  the  fixed  and  most  useful  institutions 
of  Ocean  Ciiove. 

From  its  beginning,  twenty-six  years  ago,  till  now  the 
Rev.  El  wood  H.  Stokes,  D.D.,  has  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  Ocean  Grove  Association  as  its  honored  president. 
He  has  grown  venerable  in  age  and  in  service,  having 
entered  his  ninth  decade  of  life;  yet  his  black  hair, 
smooth  face,  erect  form,  elastic  step,  and  full,  strong 
voice  would  indicate  an  ane  twenty  years  less.  Have 
his  praises  sometimes  been  sounded  extravagantly  by  the 
Ocean  Grouc  Raord  and  other  admiring  friends  ?  .So  it 
may  have  seemed  to  many.  But  all  blandisliments  aside, 
no  sober,  impartial  estimate  of  his  cliaracler,  abilities, 
and  achievements  can  deny  to  him  a  place  among  the 
most  remarkable  men  of  the  country  and  the  age.  His 
great  versatility  of  talent,  joined  with  an  unswerving  de- 
votion to  God  and  the  right,  has  wrought  wonders  for 
the  Church  and  humanity.  He  began  his  ministry  in 
1844,  as  we  know,  in  a  spirit  of  true  Christian  simplicity 
and  sincerity,  and  that  early  spirit  has  suffered  no  infla- 
tion by  all  his  later  promotions  and  honors — a  case  too 
rare  not  to  deserve  special  mention. 

Veterans'  Day,  October  20,  1895,  was  delightfully 
passed  by  the  Rev.  A.  M.  Palmer  and  myself  at  the 
Second  (Trinity)  Church,  Rahway,  N.  J.,  with  the  pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Mayham,  and  his  generous  peo- 
ple, each  of  us  preaching  a  sermon.  Our  entertainment  at 
the  parsonage  was  most  cordial  and  enjoyable. 

The  last  few  years  have  called  us  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
for  visits  among  our  children;  and  while  the  centers  of 
interest  have  been  their  delightful  homes,  the  city  itself 
has  afforded  unusual  attractions  and  enjoyments.  If 
any  other  city  on  the  continent  can  treat  its  visitors  to 
better  churches,  better  preachers  and  preaching,  better 
schools  and  institutions  of  learning,  better  music  on 


268 


Sunset  Memories. 


Sunday  and  on  week  day,  more  or  better  free  lectures, 
better  homes  or  warmer  liospitality,  we  liave  yet  to  make 
the  acquaintance  of  that  city. 

Our  latest  visit  gave  me  opportunity,  early  in  Decem- 
ber, 1895,  to  witness  the  impressive  obsequies  of  Bishop 
W'ayman,  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
All  the  living  bishops  of  that  Church  were  present  and 
took  part  in  the  services,  Dr.  John  Lanahan  also  making 
one  of  the  addresses.  Within  and  without  the  large 
building  many  thousands  were  in  attendance.  During 
this  visit  the  National  Cily  Evangelizaticjn  Union  held 
its  annual  convention  in  Baltimore,  to  which  were  drawn, 
from  both  neighboring  and  remote  localities,  notable  min- 
isters and  laymen,  among  the  latter  our  own  William  H. 
Beach,  Esq.,  who  acted  as  secretary  of  the  convention 
and  made  stirring  addresses.  Many  of  the  meetings  were 
of  thrilling  interest. 

Among  the  names  of  ministers  pleasantly  remembered 
in  connection  with  our  visits  at  Baltimore  are  those  of 
Drs.  Cioucher,  Van  Meter,  Huntley,  Frost,  Stitt,  Clark, 
McCauley,  Richardson,  Townsend,  AVagner,  AVightman, 
Davis,  with  the  Revs.  B.  F.  Clarkson,  AV.  I.  McKenney, 
J.  F.  Heisse,  AV.  M.  Ferguson,  G.  A\^  Cooper,  E.  H. 
Smith,  AV  M.  Hammack,  J.  P.  AVright,  AV.  A.  Koontz, 
C.  E.  Guthrie,  AV.  Sheers,  J.  P.  Dean,  of  Reisterstown, 
J.  F.  Ockerman,  AV.  G.  Herbert,  etc. 

A  visit  to  the  New  Jersey  Conference,  held  at  Bridge- 
ton  March  11,  1896,  afforded  unusual  enjoyment. 
Forty-one  years  had  passed  since  I  ceased  to  be  pastor 
of  the  Commerce  Street  Church  in  that  city.  AA^ere  any 
still  left  for  mutual  remembrance  and  rcc ngnilion  ?  Yes, 
a  surprising  number,  with  whom  the  jiasl  was  joyously 
talked  over.  One  said,  "  I  distinctly  remember  two  of 
your  sermons,"  repeating  the  text  of  each.  Another  said, 
"  I  was  awakened  under  one  of  your  sermons,"  naming 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  269 


the  text.  Another  said,  "  I  was  converted  when  you 
were  pastor  here,"  and  tlien  gave  the  names  of  a  Iialf 
dozen  others  who  sought  and  found  at  the  same  time. 
Was  there  no  comfort  in  these  and  otlier  simihir  expres- 
sions.' The  measure  of  it  was  unspeakable,  as  every 
pastor  of  long  experience  can  well  understand.  A  few 
calls  only  could  be  made,  but  these  were  very  enjoy- 
able. 

The  addresses  and  sermon  by  Bisiiop  Joyce  were 
masterly.  His  powerful  appeals  on  Sunday  morning 
helped  to  jMepare  the  wny  for  the  revival  services  led  by 
Dr.  William  A.  Spencer  on  Sunday  e\ening,  in  which 
twenty-five  jirofessed  con\'ersion.  The  home  of  Mrs. 
Laura  C.  Cox  and  her  lovely  family  afforded  me  delight- 
ful entertainment  in  company  with  Brothers  Belting 
and  Barnhart,  members  of  the  Conference.  Here,  too, 
was  the  venerable  mother  and  grandmother,  Mrs.  Whit- 
aker,  whose  warm  hospitality  of  long  ago  was  so  well 
remembered.  Though  now  some  years  past  the  eightieth 
anniversary  of  her  birth,  her  cheerful  spirit,  retentive 
memory,  and  excellent  gift  of  conversation  still  render 
her  coni])anionshij)  at  once  agreeable  and  heljiful. 

Two  weeks  later  came  the  annual  session  of  the  New- 
ark Conference,  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  city  of  Newark, 
presided  o\er  l)y  IJislioi)  Foss.  It  was  a  harmonious 
session,  with  about  the  usual  disposition  to  "  talk,"  which 
in  general,  however,  was  wisely  employed.  Had  Dr. 
Samuel  A.  Keen's  life  and  health  been  spared  he  woidd 
probably  have  been  with  us  to  conduct  jientecostal  serv- 
ices, which  would  doubtless  have  proved  a  great  blessing, 
as  it  would  have  met  a  pressing  need.  An  occasion  of 
special  interest  was  the  reception  on  Friday  morning  to 
the  Lay  Electoral  Conference,  a  nol)le  body  of  loyal, 
intelligent  laymen  representing  two  liundred  and  thirty 
pastoral  charges.  The  address  of  welcome  by  the  bishop 
18 


270 


Sunset  Memories. 


was  all  that  could  have  been  desired,  and  the  response 
to  it  by  the  president  of  the  Lay  Conference,  the  Rev- 
John  M.  Gwinnell,  was  befitting  and  happy.  The  ad- 
dresses and  sermon-  of  Bishop  Foss,  like  those  of  Bishop 
Joyce  two  weeks  before,  were  "mighty  through  God." 
How  refreshing  to  see  the  banner  of  scriptural  holiness 
raised  aloft  in  such  quick  succession  by  our  chief  min- 
isters, and  to  hear  the  doctrine  of  perfect  love  in  this 
life  so  clearly  and  forcibly  discussed!  What  a  beautiful 
example  for  imitation  by  the  ministry  of  the  whole 
Church! 

In  closing  these  Su/isi't  Memories  I  wish  to  emphasize 
the  great  goodness  of  God  "  all  along  my  pilgrim  way." 
That  goodness  has  ever  been  the  supreme  thought  of  my 
being,  whereby  I  have  been  preserved  from  murmuring 
or  repining  in  even  the  sorest  trials  and  deepest  sorrows. 
What  Addison  wrote  many  years  ago  as  a  resolve  or 
pledge  early  became  with  me  a./ialHt  : 

"  Through  every  period  of  my  life 
Thy  goodness  I'll  pursue." 

That  habit  has  never  failed  to  give  sunshine  beneath 
clouds,  joy  amid  grief;  nor  has  it  lost  aught  of  its  power 
to  bring  to  the  heart  "  good  cheer  "  in  old  age.  I  still 
live  in  a  blessed  atmosphere  of  hallelujahs.  My  super- 
numerary years  have  been  among  the  happiest,  most 
contented,  and  blest;  and  now  as  I  gaze  upon  the  cloud- 
less sky  of  my  sunsetting,  I  see  the  glad  tokens  of  that 
bright  to-morrow  in  which  the  ancient  promise,  "  Thy 
sun  shall  no  more  go  down,"  will  become  merged  in  the 
light  of  an  everlasting  fulfillment;  for  "  there  shall  be 
no  night  there."  The  following  stanzas  of  a  jubilee 
hymn  written  for  use  December  4,  1890,  continue  to 
give  expression  to  my  abiding  "  patience  of  hope  in  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  :  " 


Supernumerary  Experiences.  271 


"  Lo,  fifty  years  for  Jesus  ! 
The  lengthening  shadows  fall  ; 

The  toil  soon  closing 

In  calm  reposing, 
To  wait  the  Masters  call ; 

While  peaceful  age 

Completes  life's  crowded  page. 
Lo,  fifty  years  for  Jesus, 
Telling  his  wondrous  love  ! 

"  Hail,  ripened  years  in  Jesus  ! 
The  sun  of  life  sinks  low  ; 

Pisgah  ascending. 

And  heaven  descending, 
The  spirit  longs  to  go  ! 

Stronger  the  light. 

The  glory  beams  more  bright  ! 
Lo,  endless  years  with  Jesus, 
Praising  his  wondrous  love  !  " 

For  the  reader  and  the  writer,  with  all  others  of  the 
common  faith,  I  invoke  all  the  rich  benefits  comjjre- 
hended  in  the  tender  farewell  doxology  of  Jude,  so 
sublime  and  inspiring:  "  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to 
keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you  faultless  be- 
fore the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy,  to  the 
only  wise  Ciod  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty,  domin- 
ion and  power,  both  now  and  ever.  Amen:" 


THE  END. 


II I  111  iilli  iiili  iliil^  iiiilif  1 1 

1  1012  01488  1959 


